SHIVER me timbers! The final touches are being put into place for the next panto to drop anchor in Weymouth.

Sinbad the Sailor is being staged by the town's drama club and after months of rehearsals, the cast, backstage crew and band led by musician Ed Hintz is ready to roll.

"It is coming together brilliantly," said director Jacqui Trent.

"Last night the band came in for the first time and the rehearsal was fabulous. Just having the music as part of the show raised everyone up a notch or two."

Jacqui added that among the songs for Sinbad are You're the One that I Want, Timewarp and I'm a Believer.

"We are using I'm a Believer for the final but the funny thing is the youngsters see it as the Shrek song' and have no idea what I'm talking about when I say it's by The Monkees!" she added The annual pantomime is widely seen as the most popular show staged by Weymouth Drama Club.

Sinbad sees the salty adventurer, played by Julie Knight, come home to Constantinople to find that Princess Pearl (Catherine Jones), the fiancee of the Caliph (Tom Keating), has been abducted by the evil Sinistro (Simon Raynes).

Our hero vows to return her safely and sets off on a voyage to find her. En route, he encounters all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures and even meets his own true love, the beautiful Talida (Millie Southway).

"He has some pretty wild adventures," said Jacqui, "from the cannibal witch doctor to the beautiful high priestess Bludruncolda and the giant stone bird. It's been a great cast to work with too, because the lead roles are pretty feisty and adventurous types and the people playing them are too."

You can set sail with Sinbad the Sailor on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 25 to 27. Performances are at 7.30, with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30. Tickets are £8.75, with children's tickets at £6.25. Call Weymouth Pavilion box office on 01305 783225 for bookings and details.