SATIRE, slapstick and show-stopping song and dance numbers were the perfect ingredients which made this year’s Christmas panto at the Theatre Royal Bath a festive delight.

Hot on the heels of last year’s highly-successful panto, the star of Jack and the Beanstalk is television and film star Nigel Havers who plays Fleshcreep – the trusty right-hand man to the wicked giant.

Receiving more boos and hisses than the average politician in the Commons, Havers is a real treat and his wealth of acting experience does come across in portraying such a ghastly character.

Also taking to the stage was CBeebies’s star Katy Ashworth who made sure good triumphs over evil as she offers a generous sprinkle of panto magic to her role as the Forest Fairy.

Appearing as Dame Trott was award-winning Nick Wilton, more commonly known for playing market inspector Mr Lister in EastEnders.

His rapport and comradery with family-favourite Jon Monie is an absolute pleasure to watch and they really made it their mission to make sure you walked away with a smile.

The much-loved story follows the tale of heroic Jack who, in a bid to win Princess Jill’s hand, must defeat the giant and in doing so, is mistakenly conned into selling the family’s beloved cow Daisy in exchange for a bag of gold.

As always, all is not what it seems and after discovering the bag is full of beans, Jack finds that they are no ordinary beans but in fact magical beans that transform into a beanstalk.

The chopping down of the beanstalk later became the stump of a joke about the destruction of Trowbridge which was welcomed by a barrel of laughs.

Throughout the highly-energetic show, the audience were constantly engaged with the participative jokes and at one stage, the humour got too much for Havers and Wilton who broke down in laughter at their quick-witted remarks.

With its modern day references to celebrity and political feuds as well as featuring chart-topping hits such as Uptown Funk and Fight Song, the panto offers audiences a well-rounded performance which still pays tribute to its traditional ways.

Getting the royal seal of approval from my four-year-old nephew who absolutely loved the show, the Theatre Royal Bath has once again hit the nail on the head this Christmas with a brilliant panto.

Jack and the Beanstalk appears until Sunday, January 10.

To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk