LET'S get the negatives out of the way quickly: the songs were a bit dull and the storyline was so vague it was almost non-existent.

But that really doesn't matter because what people want from pantomime is sparkly costumes, smiling faces, awful jokes and lots of slapstick, and this production has them in spades.

Lisa Riley puts in a pleasing performance as the Ring Mistress of the circus, although she really needs a more powerful voice to pull it off successfully. Young critics Jenny and Emily thought she was quite good - better than she is on the telly. Darlington's Steve Luck makes an impressive dame, all six foot three of him in gorgeous costumes, looking just like Vanessa Feltz in the finale.

The stars of the show are Danny Adams and Clive Webb as Silly Billy and Bozo the clown. The kids loved them, and their well-rehearsed slapstick routines also had the grown-ups falling about. The front rows watched in trepidation as they spread the tarpaulin for the decorating scene, with good reason - they use real water! The brilliantly executed plug song, the Twelve Days of Christmas, had the principals tearing about and scrambling over the seats trying to retrieve the twelve gifts from the audience. Hilarious. I waited all the way through for my chance to cry "Oh no it isn't!" but it never came. It's a good family panto, though, and well worth a visit. Oh yes it is.

Sue Heath

* Runs until Jan 18. Box Office (01325) 486555

Published: 11/12/2003