The panto season is upon us again, poised to herald in the New Year with much thigh-slapping, cross-dressing and, in this case, competitive mewing.

Yes, despite the plethora of potty plots on offer, from Red Riding Hoods and Cinderellas to Robinson Crusoes and Mother Geese, this year Sussex is on the verge of a titular cat fight as Brighton and Hove launches Dick Whittington, Eastbourne responds with Dick Whittington And His Cat and East Grinstead seeks to top them all by grandly announcing Dick Whittington And His Amazing Cat.

However, the build-up to the Theatre Royal's pantomime has focussed less on the presence of a talking feline and more on the casting of ex-Steps performer H as Dick Whittington, with many wondering why the lead role had fallen to an over-hyped pop star - a has-been for three years - and others wryly commenting: "If the name fits..."

But if you're expecting a plastic popster, you're likely to be surprised.

Declaring "I fell into pop music but my heart has always been in theatre", H has recently finished a seven-month run as the star of the West End's Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat, where he bemoaned a "tendency to do it karaoke-style" and set about "making Joseph more real".

Reviews were fantastic, praising H for his rapport with the audience, his light comic touch and his ability to draw emotion from the more dramatic songs - all skills which probably didn't have much chance to surface in the Waterman-controlled, production-based world of Steps but which should transfer admirably to panto.

And, if that isn't enough for you, what about the fact the 28-year-old has actually been learning to sing, enrolling at the Royal Academy Of Music and enthusing, "I'll be able to apply things in the panto as I learn them in college".

Joining H on stage are Worthing-based Keeping Up Appearances actor David Griffin as King Rat, Ian Good, one half of the infamous Bounty "ladies" as dame Sarah the Cook and Southern FM DJ Danny Pike as Ship's Mate.

Starts 7.30pm, Tickets £10.50 - £19, Tel 08700 606650