Rehearsals are in full swing for Alness Academy's production of Pirates of Loch Ness, which rewrites Scottish history and celebrates the Highland Year of Culture 2007.

The panto promises to be a treat and showcases the amazing talents of the school's young people. The show stars Jess the Jacobite Cruises monster who has been kindly given a few days off from her duties as tour guide on the Jacobite cruises along Loch Ness, courtesy of Freda Rapson. Jess is played by Kieran Ramsay.

Jess the monster is actually guardian of the Stuart Treasure which was taken to Scotland by Bonnie Prince Charlie. She helps them re-establish the Stuart throne in Scotland.

The show features Andrew Danet, their youngest ever pantomime dame, Sally the cook. Sally is assisted by his ambitious son, Jim Ladd, played by Steven Baikie who aspires to be an officer and a gentleman rather than a galley hand. Jim becomes the hero of the show when he rescues Jack Thrush played by James MacDonald, a rather flamboyant character who is Captain of the Jacobite Queen Pleasure boat,which had been kidnapped by some nasty pirates.

Lady Perrins is played by Chrissie MacDonald and Jessica Strang, who has decided that her daughter is going to marry the Captain Birdseye of the HMS Oystercatcher, played by Ben Jones.

However, Bonnie is having none if it! Captain Birdseye is assisted by Lieutenant Milnafua, played by Struan Auld, who ably assists the Captain by agreeing with everything the Captain says.

However the HMS Oystercatcher's cruise of Loch Ness is threatened by the evil pirate, Long Jock Itch, played by David Mackay and his dastardly crew which includes Skull played by Shon Maidon and Euan Burnett, Bones played by Andrew Page and James Beattie.

Swashbuckling cast members prepare for their pirates' panto.

Scrapper Sue played by Kerry-Anne Gillies and Zeenat Hossain, the evil Pirates mum, played by Mrs Ballingall and an assortment of Pirates played by Katie Allan, Connor MacLeod, Lia Mai Cooper, Naomi Munro and Kirsty Heugan.

The pirate has a crazy parrot played by Ross MacLeod who will certainly get on everyone's nerves!

Overlooking the proceedings to ensure that 'all's well that ends well' is the Fairy godmother played by Fiona Ross and assisted by her apprentice Fairy played by Roni Simpson and Amberley Caldwell.

As usual a whole lot of characters pop up on stage to ensure that the show goes with a bang.

Tickets are available from the Heritage Centre, Alness Post Office, Allsorts all on Alness High Street. Tickets are also available from Robert Dineen at the Joss Street Hall, Invergordon and from the reception at Alness Academy.

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