There is a plethora of different accents on stage in the Kings Theatre, Southsea pantomime this year.

From Daniella Westbrook’s Cockney Fairy Sparkle, to Christopher Maloney’s Scouse Prince Valiant and Lynne McGranger’s Aussie Carabosse to Tony Adams’ very well spoken King Egbert.

They are all blend together perfectly to produce a sparkling festive show which the audience adored and the cast looked like they had enjoyed performing.

For me, the star of the show was without doubt Matt Dallen as Chester the Jester. Making his Kings Theatre debut, he played the joker role with perfect comic timing and boundless energy – and must have been black and blue after the performance due to the amount of time he spent falling over on the stage. The biggest laugh came when he accidentally slipped on a pile of ‘tatty frocks’ which were part of the ever popular Twelve Days of Christmas routine. I’m not sure how he’s going to make it to the end of the run without breaking a bone!

Experiencing his first taste of pantomime, X Factor finalist Christopher Maloney had incredible strong vocals and proved he could turn his hand to acting too, even showcasing his latest single, My Heart Belongs to You (available in the foyer) to the delight of his many eager fans.

No panto is complete without a dame and Christopher Marlowe’s Queen Gertie is splendidly over-the-top and combines well with ‘husband’ former Crossroads favourite Tony Adams.

Helen Kent is a gorgeous Princess Beauty and ex-EastEnder Daniella Westbrook an equally gorgeous fairy.

The whole show is a bit rough round the edges, with a few lines being forgotten along the way, but that somehow is the magic of panto and the glorious Kings Theatre is a wonderful venue to experience that magic.