A WORD of warning if you go to see this year’s pantomime at the Ferneham Hall: don’t sit in the front rows unless you are happy to be pelted with pastry, squirted with water and even covered in toilet roll.

It always used to be buckets of sweets thrown out when I was younger – how times change, but that’s health and safety for you, I suppose.

Audience participation is key to the success of this year’s panto with the cast engaging with the crowd on a number of occasions, including a poor chap in the second row called Graham who was singled out as the love interest of Dame Dolly, played magnificently by Kim Wall.

Familiar faces in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs included star of Hollyoaks, EastEnders and Dancing on Ice Stefan Booth, and Lloyd Warbey, best known for Art Attack. Dashing Stefan played a laidback Prince Charming while Lloyd was Herbie the cheeky companion of Snow White (Daniella Piper). All three actors had strong voices and combined well on stage.

The show featured songs from Disney’s recordbreaking movie Frozen and recent pop music hits like Pharrell William’s Happy.

And Snow White wouldn’t be the same without the seven dwarfs singing the more traditional Heigh-Ho and Whistle While You Work.

Displaying an impressive vocal range, the wicked queen (Rebecca Vere) was totally menacing and had the audience hissing and booing at her nasty antics throughout the show.

Surprisingly her magic mirror was voiced by Barry from EastEnders (Shaun Williamson).

Packed full of family fun with a smattering of innuendo, this show is slick and polished.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the Ferneham Hall, Fareham, until January 4, 2015. For tickets visit fernehamhall.co.uk.

EMMA ALLEN