Rebecca Ash was excellent as the heroine, Gerda, who sets out to save her love, Kai (charmingly portrayed by Josh Peters) from the evil Snow Queen.

Helen Gard appeared every inch the frosty villain in her own scripted, pantomime and, along with Anthony Bevan (highly entertaining as Nanny Rose), enjoyed a spirited rapport with the audience; it really is unwise to sit in the front row!

It was delightful to see, once again from TOADS, the enthusiasm and joy in the faces of the youngest members of the cast, encouraged and supported by the more mature and experienced performers.

Maybe a little icy round the edges, but this show sparkled with a genuinely warm-hearted, feel-good factor!

Lovely cameos (particularly David Kearns and Abbie Rayner as Prince and Princess Opal), good choreography, terrific piano accompaniment to lyrical singing, good effects and beautifully painted scenery all combined to produce another endearingly enchanting Christmas show.

Anne Waggott