You won't be disappointed by the mother of all pantomimes

ONCE upon a time, the festive theatre experience that is pantomime was born.

Far-away magic kingdoms and good versus evil, simple story lines and strong characters all mixed in with an enormous helping of fun, laughter, boo, hiss and he's behind you.

Salisbury's latest panto offering has so much of all these traditional fairytale frolics, it surely leaves audiences ever happy, after every performance.

This year's Sleeping Beauty is truly the mother of all pantomimes.

The cast, the script, the singing, the music, the costumes, the set - it all comes together in two hours of total entertainment.

I laughed from beginning to end.

The writers have got it spot-on this year, with plenty of local references - the Kingdom of Sarum, Prince Peter of Middlewallopshire and being banished to Basingstoke, to name but three - with modern themes that appeal to parents and children alike.

The slow-motion slapstick, the Indiana Jones fight sequence, and the enchanted flower-of-love scenes were great fun and as for the windy' Blue Danube in the ultra-violet cave scene, you just have to see this show to appreciate it all.

Normally one character will stand out heads and shoulders above the rest but this year, and I kid you not, every single member of the cast shines - I even felt guilty booing the evil ones.

For some, a pantomime could be their first experience of live theatre. And what a treat this year's Sleeping Beauty would be.

The show runs until January 6. Put it on your Christmas list. You won't be disappointed.

- Jane Warner