The theatre's artistic director Paul Kerryson will direct a cast that also includes Chook Sibtain as the King. Dee has previously starred in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel (playing Carrie Pipperidge in the original cast of Nicholas Hytner's 1992 National Theatre production, for which she won the Olivier Award), and as Maria in The Sound of Music and as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, both at Sheffield Crucible. She has also starred in Alan Ayckbourn's Comic Potential in the West End (winning the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Olivier Awards for Best Actress) and at Off-Broadway's Manhattan Theatre Club. Recent roles include A Month in the Country at Chichester Festival Theatre and Calendar Girls in the West End.

Sibtain has appeared on TV in "Hustle," "Doctor Who," "Sarah Jane Adventures" and "Doctors." Theatre credits include productions of An Enemy of the People (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton).

The musical director is Julian Kelly, choreography is by David Needham and designs are by Sara Perks. The cast also includes Claire-Marie Hall, Adrian Li Donni, Maya Sapone, Nicholas Goh, Gary Wood, Alison Guill, Simon Archer, Lisa Dent, Charlotte Humphrey, Sayaka Ichikawa, Aiko Kato, Makoto Leahy, Kristopher Mitchell, Rowan Lewis Mitchell, Stefanie Mourant, Samantha Tan and Craig Turbyfield. They will be joined by a rotating company of three teams drawn from 60 children from Leicester and the surrounding county, cast from open auditions held during the summer.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0116 242 3595, or visit www.curveonline.co.uk