Jack and the Beanstalk, Customs House, South Shields

IN the safe hands of director and dame Ray Spencer (as Dame Trott and co-writer with Graeme Thompson) we are introduced to Cooksonville, where the delinquent dolly lives with her sons Jack (Luke Maddison) and Arbuthnot (David John Hopper) together with a blue-eyed cow called Doddington; their only asset of any value.

As the wacky plot progresses the lovely Eloise (Natasha Hawes) is romantically pursued by both Jack and Arbuthnot and also the evil Giant, who sends his wicked servant Fleshcreep (Steven Lee Hamilton) to kidnap her. With the help of the Mayor (Gareth Hunter) and the good Fairy Arachis (Eleanor Chagaris) everything seems to be going well until Arbuthnot sells Doddington at market for a bag of beans...

Chaotic comedy ensues when Dame Trott throws the beans into a pile of manure. With a brilliant slapstick "messy scene", the giant's hand and a few golden eggs thrown into the mix we wonder how Eloise will ever escape the giant's clutches.

Master of the ad-lib Ray Spencer and his stalwart team have been providing pantos for decades and their experience shows in this sparkling production, packed with popular singalong songs, topical comments and local jokes.

Special mention has to be given to South Tyneside Dance Workshop for their enthusiastic, accomplished performance and to Paul Shriek and Matt Fox for stunning set design and magnificent costumes.

* Runs until until Saturday, January 7. Tickets from £9.75. Box office: 0191-454-1234

Peter Dixon