Christmas has certainly arrived in Hedge End, as PAC served up a generous helping of Christmas spirit with this lively family panto.

Featuring traditional panto ingredients, an eclectic mix of songs and humour that ranged from sheer silliness to saucy innuendo, this was a panto for all ages.

While long, at nearly three hours, its pace never lagged.

It looked good and was enlivened by breezy dance routines; credit to the costumes and make up, stage design and lighting and especially the choreographers for their contribution.

The production benefited from the enthusiasm of its cast and from the assured performances at its centre. Ollie Uglow (Idle Jack) and Lewis Philpott (Dame Dolly Dumpling) enjoyed a great rapport both as a team and with the audience and made a well tuned double act.

Karen Robson