IF the plot is the USS Exercise, captained by James T Burke, battling evil robots led by Dark Waders, then it can only be Paul and Barry Chuckle at the helm.

The atmosphere inside the packed venue seems hotter than a Klingon on the starboard bow, but every eye is on the antics of the popular pair and their cast.

Mixed in with the daftest of parodies of sci-fi blockbusters is a strong strain of slapstick, with the stalls and balconies getting a liberal soaking from high-powered water pistols.

A burst packet of crisps is also dished out before five members of the audience receive a custard pie in the face – one poor female volunteer for the role of Goldilocks ends up pie-eyed after falling victim to all three bears.

Not that this has much to do with boldly going into outer space, but more about the Bafta award-winning Chuckles, pictured, putting laughter into orbit.

Older brothers, Jimmy and Brian Patton, assist with the comedy chaos, while Jayne and Stuart Loughland double up as robots besides staging their own Safire illusion act.

Charlotte Sullivan and Richard Morgan beef up the Star Trek antics with roles as Lieutenant O’Hara and Spotty, the ship’s engineer, respectively.

Ghostly aliens, food-making computers which go mad and booby-trapped beds ensure that young fans of TV’s Chucklevision have plenty to laugh and scream about, while the endless stream of silliness makes adults forget the world of worry outside.

Chuckle Trek was nearing the end of its mission when it played Newcastle’s Journal Tyne Theatre on Friday, but A Christmas Chuckle takes over with performances at York Grand Opera House on December 1 (0844- 847-2322) and Newcastle Journal Tyne Theatre on December 5 (0844-493- 9999). Between “to me and to you” the pair are unmissable.