I must admit that my extensive knowledge of the pantomime format extends to catching glimpses of the ones they used to put on ITV involving actors from Coronation Street being none-too entertaining. Needless to say, pantos never quite appealed to me as a result. However, this year’s production of ‘The Pied Piper’ was a welcome treat and thoroughly enjoyable too.

Upbeat and vaguely perverse at the same time, the plot consisted of a hapless mayor employing the Pied Piper to rid the streets of Hamelin of their rats (and also nick their kids). The Piper himself was both sinister and charming, matched only by the promiscuous wench-cum-fairy godmother, Frau Faberge, dressed like a chocolate orange and with the hair of a blonde Amy Winehouse. Other highlights included the endearing Rudi, who took to the possibility of embarking on a relationship with a curiously-conceived half-rodent remarkably well and Lorenzo the Rat King, played by Alex Owen, was also a delight, with a rap consisting of twenty-eight words containing ‘rat’ being what can only be described as incredibad. There were a few contemporary references –Obama, Blair and the education budget all featured- enough to keep it current and knowing, but placed so as not to detract from the musical numbers, including ‘Miss Unacceptable’ and the opening song ‘Rats.’ One of the best lines came from one of the later songs, where the rats had taken to use toilet water as a mixer.

The first half of the performance was certainly more engaging, with the latter section’s plot somewhat limiting the extent to which the jokes were flowing, but nonetheless it remained worth-watching. Vibrant, witty, and filled with good performances, this year’s panto certainly had me entertained and a convert, with the audience certainly loving it too.