We know what to expect from a pantomime at York Grand Opera House and this doesn’t disappoint. Unfortunately.

Last year’s Cinderella appears to have been a glitch because this Jack is back in the old routine of poor script, lacklustre sets and dull performances.

Everything that needs to be done is done but without any invention or imagination. It’s as if the whole show is being performed by robots, such is the lack of charm and energy.

Only former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell makes an effort, treating her Fairy Peapod as an acting role and making her a dizzy, daffy do-gooder with limp wand and excitable personality.

Otherwise, we get Aidan J Harvey (in his umpteenth York panto) doing his usual silly sidekick stuff (Simple Simon, this year), a Jack (Tim Driesen) who’s not all right and a Jill (Emily Sidonie) who should have stuck to water collection.

Richard Westcott’s Tilly Trott is brisk and efficient without ever engaging with the audience.

What’s sadly lacking in Simon Barry’s staging is not only a song sheet (presumably the budget doesn’t stretch to one) but any sense of magic to grab younger theatregoers and any decent comedy to amuse the adults. I’m sorry to sound so Scrooge-like, but audiences deserve better. Other theatres in the region show what can be done. Harrogate Theatre serves up a fresh, funny and good-looking pantomime on a modest budget, while York Theatre Royal may use many of the same performers but never fails to ring the changes and put a fresh spin on things.

There’s more imagination in eight-year-old Joseph Williams’ programme cover design than the whole show.

■ Until January 4. Tickets 0844-8472322 and online grandoperahouseyork.org.uk