THIS season's Derby Assembly Rooms panto is set to break all previous records.

Cinderella, starring former Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey and ex-Eternal singer Kelle Bryan, is on course to be the most successful pantomime yet at the venue.

Morrissey's star quality, good reviews and word of mouth are all boosting audiences and producing packed houses for a show which is bucking the national trend in the recession.

Peter Ireson, director of Derby Live, which co-produces the pantomime each year with Paul Holman, said: "We were behind on bookings from very early on in January compared with last year. At one point we were over 15% down on the previous year. But as soon as Neil came to town in the summer to promote the show it started to pick up and now it's racing ahead – and is currently 10% up on 2008.

"If the trajectory keeps going that way it will be the most successful pantomime ever at the Assembly Rooms."

The show is written by father-and-son comedy duo Keith and Ben Simmons, with dad also directing.

It's the fourth year the pair have been behind the show.

Neil Morrissey plays Buttons and his ad-libbing and rapport with audiences has been a big boost.

CINDERELLA

WHERE: Derby Assembly Rooms.

WHEN: Until January 10.

TICKETS: From £9.

BOX OFFICE: 01332 255800.

Read our interview with Keith and Ben Simmons in Qt on Boxing Day.