... Dick Whittington Bishops Stortford Rhodes Centre's pantomime could be called plucky, courageous even, but not spectacular. A young cast tries hard to make David Baldock's script as funny as possible but director Lucy O'Hare allows her charges to screech almost continuously. Glyn Trefor-Jones tries hard to bring a simple sincerity to the role and he sings well. Nicole Freeman- Wright as his Cat ...

... Cinderella Halifax Bold, but never brash, the Victoria Theatre's show never loses sight of the fact that it is telling a favourite story. It is a beautifully constructed pantomime with colourful sets and radiant lighting. The dancing is crisp and varied and the songs are staged with spirit and style. Once a feeling of briskness is brought to Act I its success will be assured. The Royle ...

... Jack and the Beanstalk Grays Darren Williams, Thameside's ever-expansive Dame, solved a pantomime conundrum bothering me about this year's crop: sympathy was the missing quality in those dames criticised as too blokish. Williams, as president of the Grays Massive, abusive to his audience as he likes, never forgets Tilly is a poor widow. Combine his talents with Darren Maddison's likeable ...

... The New Adventures of Peter Pan Southend-on-Sea What was Edwardian, gentle, subtle and, yes. rather fey has become brash, raucous and in-yer-face in Terry Morrison's production at the Cliffs Pavilion. The enigmatic James Barrie would recognise his material but it is played at full volume for the MTV age. Thus Shane Richie as Mr Darling swaggers about telling jokes with a strong Estuary ...

... Aladdin Hastings White Rock Theatre, once a huge hospital, is a rambling place with a large stage. Paul Hammond's cure is to engage 68 babes and dancers, sending them on stage in alternating troupes of 20. Strong and colourful production scenes are the result, with performers even dancing in the aisles via Lisa Jarrett's choreography. Mitchell Armstrong has much to do as a strangely hatless ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Shanklin, loW Pantomimes at Shanklin Theatre just get better each year and this is a feast of fun, colour, surprises and excitement, with enough tradition to delight audiences with a wonderfully messy kitchen scene and a brief but effective ghost sequence. The real success of any Snow White production so often depends on the evil queen. In this case Traci Porter ...

... Dick Whittington and His Cat Chipping Norton Dick Whittington began his journey to London from Coberley, just a few miles from Chipping Norton, so it's appropriate that he is the subject of this years panto at The Theatre. Contrary to principal boy cus tom, Charles Baker is the amiable adventurer, and although he is given a warm welcome into the Rtzwarren household, Sarah the Cook isn't ...

... Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Redhill Attractive dancing choreographed by Helen Jeckells is the heart and soul of a polished production at the Harlequin Theatre. All branches excel to provide a great treat for the Christmas family outing. Comedy comes across in a relaxed manner with Richard Dax a homely and highly effective Dame and Peter Simon romping with the children as Muddles. He talks ...

... 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 ...