THERE is nothing like dosing yourself up with a good Christmas pantomime (age is immaterial as are children) to get you ready for the festive season, so Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs it was for me and my guest on a miserable, dark, dank December Tuesday evening.

Inside the warmth of the Bristol Hippodrome which was buzzing with excitement there was an air of anticipation as we waited for the curtain to go up.

Sparkle, glitz, razzmatazz from the wicked Queen Morgiana who was one of the standout members of the cast ably supported by Herman the Henchman - Bristol’s very own Andy Ford who is now an integral ingredient in the panto recipe for success. 

CBeebies kids favourite Andy Day was a very affable Muddles who ensured plenty of audience participation every time he came on stage and even Shaun the Sheep was a special guest.

The story for the most part is very traditional with a couple of twists along the way kept current with a duet of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud performed by Snow White and Prince Clive of Clifton.

The sets are spectacular, the villagers dance enthusiastically throughout full of energy, a special mention for the Juveniles from the Bristol School of Performing/Bristol School of Dancing. 

Musical Director Malcolm Forbes-Peckham returning for his sixth pantomime season and his orchestra played wonderfully throughout.

And finally, well into the first half of the production the arrival of the stars of the show the Seven Dwarfs led brilliantly by the outstanding Warwick Davis as Prof! From here on in the dwarfs captured the hearts of everyone, the musical medley in the second half was superb with Prof - fantastic (as was said in the show ‘its worth the ticket price alone’).

A fab time was had by all, runs until Sunday, 3rd January.