IT was our first panto of the season and you would struggle to find such an expertly put together amateur production as this.

My nephew Liam, and I, declared this the best pantomime we had seen in ages and believe me 10-year-old Liam is an expert on matters of slapstick, jokes and sing-alongs.

Lines were delivered without falter, songs sung with gusto and the audience responded with bags of enthusiasm.

This was Alan P Frayn’s adaptation of the famous fairy tale which tells of a beautiful princess who is cursed by an evil witch — played to perfection by Ingrid Folkard-Evans.

Thankfully good Fairy Lilac (Joyce Elder) was on hand to ensure there could be a happy ending.

Some of the most captivating moments came when Joyce and Ingrid faced each other and delivered — with beautiful singing voices — witty exchanges.

Ian Taylor was wonderful as the obligatory dame — this one was called Nurse Dottie Dettol — and when he picked a member of the audience to be the object of his affection it was pure comic genius.

The rainbow fairies were lovely and Shelley Tickle made a very pretty Princess Rose.

Alex Clarke did his job perfectly and had the children cheering, shouting and singing in his role as Muddles, the palace handyman.

Sadly on the afternoon we went the theatre wasn’t full. Make sure you book your tickets and get down there. You won’t be disappointed.

Performances on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 Tickets 01204 655619