IT has been billed as Winchester’s most ambitious pantomime yet and with some super special effects and illusions (including an impressive tornado, a melting witch and more than a few surprises) The Wizard of Oz at the Theatre Royal is truly magical.

A capacity audience of excitable children (and their equally enthusiastic parents) were kept enthralled throughout last night’s opening performance. Together they booed, cheered and giggled their way through the show as they journeyed to the Emerald City with Dorothy (Serena Giacomini) and her chums, encountering the meanest, greenest witch (Kali Hughes) ever to grace a stage and her band of mischievous monkeys en route.

Julian Eardley (a Winchester panto favourite) raised plenty of cheeky chuckles as the campest Cowardly Lion you’ve ever seen while Jack Cassidy and Jack Corcoran made for a lovable Scarecrow and Tin Man.

But a supporting cast of talented Winchester youngsters almost stole the show.

Put together by the team behind last year’s Beauty and the Beast, the characters, plot and setting were taken from Frank L Baum’s book and brought to life with a quick-changing array of dazzling sets made all the more enchanting by Winchester’s atmospheric auditorium.

A traditional panto in all senses.

The Wizard of Oz runs until January 3 Box office: 01962 840440