STOURBRIDGE Pantomime Company is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special effects laden production of Aladdin.

Rehearsals for the show are already well underway for the show which is being staged at Stourbridge Town Hall next month And panto fans can look forward to a bit of extra razzle dazzle, as the company has splashed out more on special effects this year to mark its milestone birthday.

Company spokesman Steve Humpherson said: "It normally costs us around £30,000 to put a show on, but this year we're spending around £35,000. We're going to have water fountains on stage and lots of flashes and bangs and quite a spectacular ending. Everyone's really geared up for it."

The company was formed in 1967 by friends John Clarkson, Michael Dowding, Arnold Bennett and his wife Gill and their first stage outing was a production of Sleeping Beauty at Stourbridge Town Hall.

Originally known as The Pantomime Company, the group later changed their name to The Stourbridge Pantomime Company Limited in the 70s.

In 1983, 84 and 85 - shows had to be held at Brierley Hill Civic Hall while Stourbridge Town Hall was being renovated. It was during this time that professional director/choreographer Mike Capri was enlisted and shows became bigger, better and glossier. The company returned to Stourbridge in 1986 and became the first company to stage shows on Sundays.

In the mid 1990s musical director Barry Hipkiss was appointed.

These days the company is still going from strength to strength and now boasts more than 180 members.

Aladdin runs on Saturday January 19 and Sunday January 20 and then from Tuesday January 22 through to Saturday January 26.

Weekday evening performances start at 7.15pm. Saturday and Thursday matinees start at 2.15pm and Sunday shows kick off at 1.15pm and 6.15pm.

Proceeds from the show will be donated to St Dunstans and to the Georgina Ward for leukaemia sufferers at Russells Hall Hospital.