THEY took the audience through the ages from ballrooms to enchanted woods and spooky dungeons.

But Sleeping Beauty, pictured, was a timeless panto treat last night in this historic year for Winchester’s Theatre Royal.

The story was chosen as a nod to the theatre’s centenary, with the colourful cast asleep for 100 years as evil witch Carabosse cast her deadly curse on Princess Aurora.

But the tale flew by in no time with comedy japes and Simon Slater’s showtime tunes, backed by live musicians and dancers.

Written by James Barry, the production was built on the foundations of any good panto – audience participation.

Pupils from Westgate and Toynbee schools laughed with pre-schoolers from Petersfield enchanted by Fairy Sweetheart as she embarked on a quest to find Prince Charming and save the sleeping Princess.

Alexander Morelli played the prince with a twist of awkward humour, giving his |bungling hero the right mix of smarm and sincerity.

But the standout performer was Andy Medhurst as Joey the Jester, revelling in the children’s clamour and carrying his slapstick smile with panache.

And he added mischief to the magic as he soaked the audience with his water gun.

The cast, completed by doddering King Rupert and his admirer in drag Nurse Nelly, grew in confidence as the plot thundered towards a climactic clash between Prince Charming and a CGI dragon.

With its villains long since vanquished, the show was capped with a fairytale wedding and sing-along pitting girls against boys. The showdown was so fierce even the teachers joined in!

Duncan Geddes