A PANTOMIME is helping moves towards racial integration by featuring an Asian actor in the role of Buttons in Cinderella.

The move by the artistic team at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn, is believed to be the first time an Asian man has performed the role in the UK.

Taresh Solanki, a Bollywood actor who has worked in Mum-bai, India, will play Cinderella's lovelorn suitor and best friend.

The role has been characterised by chee-ky celebrities such as Stu Francis, Brian Conley, Timmy Mallet and Mark Curry in other productions.

Tim Lince, artistic director for Pendle Productions, has been working in Blackburn for over 22 years and is also director of Blackburn Youth Theatre. He said: "Whatever research you do, you can't find another Asian Buttons. And we have done a lot of research. I have been in the business for 22 years, and it's never come up."

A spokesman for First Family Entertainment, one of the UK's leading pantomime producers, said he had never heard of an Asian actor playing the role.

Mr Lince felt a bold move was necessary in order to begin to encourage more diverse audiences to take part in the events and activities at the theatre.

He said: "Casting the first ever Asian actor to play this role, may be seen by some as a controversial move in a theatre with a predominantly white audience base.

"This is a town that has been portrayed by the media as a divided community and like many northern towns has its own share of problems with race and integration."

Harriet Roberts, appointed as chief executive at the theatre in March 2007, welcomed the casting. She is committed to encouraging more black and Asian communities to attend events and take part in the performing arts activities in the centre.

She said: "Pantomime has always been part of a traditional Christmas celebration but there's no reason why members of any religious community can't enjoy the colour and spectacle of our biggest event of the year."

In the past 12 months the theatre has been working with the Blackburn Hindu Society and also the Blackburn India League to stage multicultural events at the venue.

Taresh will appear alongside BBC Radio Lancashire's Sally Naden as the Fairy Godmother and Pop Idol finalist, Anthony Batey.

Taresh lives in Leicester and has performed in shows varying from Jesus Christ Superstar to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

He is looking forward to bringing the theatre to a different audience, and said: "It's a good way of showing theatre can be for everyone."

Councillor Salim Mulla, senior chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "Any activities that involve ethnic minorities serve as a contributor to community cohesion."