... Peter Pan Cardiff The great strength of this excellent New Theatre Christmas show lies in its firm emphasis on storyline. True, there are songs, dances and traditional pantomime routines incorporated, but essentially this E&B Production, directed by Derek Nicholls, faithfully follows JM Barrie's classic children's fairytale. As the little boy who refuses to grow up, Sonia makes a spirited ...

... Aladdin Doncaster David Lee's Panton Production at the Civic, with its well-plotted storyline, includes four original and appropriate songs, one of which is penned by Linda Wells, a bright-eyed Aladdin with a splendid voice and great stage presence. There is a delightful duet, Angels, with Kristi du Valle, a grace ful, self-assured princess with a modem vocal style. Prominent as Abanazar, ...

... Cinderella Uandudno At first sight, the North Wales Theatre's Cinderella is firmly in the tradition of commercial panto com plete with TV soap stars. But in Peter Purves' directorial hands pantomime takes absolute priority. While Steven Pinder and Karen Dairy make great play of their Brookside marriage, even allowing a non-viewer like me to understand the jokes, they are first and fore most ...

... Jack and the Beanstalk Hull Much to the delight of New Theatre audiences, Billy Pearce, who proved to be such a hit throughout last year's panto season, returns as Jack, under direction from David Lee and Rita Proctor. And, with his own particular brand of high-octane tomfoolery, he delivers the goods yet again. This Pantoni Pantomime pro duction, with a fresh script by Lee, really is topclass ...

... A Christmas Carol Liverpool After three years of darkness the refurbished Playhouse opens with a prestigious, heart-searching production directed with sensitivity by Richard Williams. The tableau, where the poor and dejected stand on different levels before huge, towering build ings (designed by David Collis), is filled with a swirling fog. A single beam shines down on Scrooge, while his ...

... Dick Whittington and His Cat Basingstoke Glitz is there, thanks to the sparkling costumes, the glamour is there, down to Ana Boulter as Dick, and there is plenty of humour, compliments of veteran pantomime writers Christopher Lillicrap and Jeanette Ranger, but there is a distinct lack ot momentum in this production at the Anvil. Rodney Bewes as Sarah the Cook is not as quick off the mark as ...

... Cinderella Yeovil Pantoni choreographer Rita Proctor has a notable directing debut in this production at the Octagon Theatre where she has crafted a traditional pantomime treat. By the first half closer featuring a glitter coach and Shetland ponies, grown-ups have recognised the enchantment of Cinderella pre sentations long past. Yet David Lees original music and script plus high-energy ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Scunthorpe One of the good things about panto is that the storylines are flexible. For instance, I do not remember a Court Jester in the Disney version of this great tale but here we have Dusty the Court Jester, played brilliantly by Rusty Goffe, bringing an extra dimension of fun to this great John Spillers production at the Plowright. Goffe teams up with the ...

... Peter Pan Guildford Peter Pan is usually all plot without padding and at the Yvonne Amaud you could add colourful presentation with vivid designs by Gary Underwood and clever lighting by Trevor Wallace. Fronting the exciting scenery is a vivacious and cheeky Peter Pan performed by Issy van Randwyck. She throws herself wholeheartedly into the role, playing in the principal boy style with clear ...

... Dick Whittington Edinburgh When it comes to a big panto experience with all the trimmings, then the King's Theatre comes out on top. But, while the acting and up to the minutes gags are spot on, the production does have some serious flaws. Dorothy Paul excels as a Fairy Bowbells who is never too nice to care about. She deals with a half hearted insertion into the script of getting the audience ...

... Aladdin Lewisham No matter what adults may think, there is no denying the instant bond that TV star Timmy Mallett has with children. The show's publicity sums up the approach accurately: no TV soap stars, no sporting names, but a variety-based cast seriously chas ing laughs and presenting old-fash ioned comedy and slapstick. It is a pantomime aimed squarely at the kids. Mallett as Aladdin has ...

... Yule Brighton Late-night cabaret aimed at an adult audience is likely to be risque, so it comes as a surprise that there are only a couple of four-letter words to be heard at the Komedia. I guessed it would be a drag act and I was half right. Tina C, the glamorous country and western star is the fella. Barbara Nice, the middle-aged mum with five kids from Stockport, is obviously just that. She ...