The creative team of Qdos Entertainment, director Alex Norton and writer Alan McHugh, return to Aberdeen to offer a traditional panto boasting some of the best comedy of the genre seen on the city stage in recent years.

Playing the dame and sidekick for the fifth year running are McHugh and Jordan Young, who are once again joined by Elaine C Smith, resulting in comedy dynamite.

McHugh's hilarious word play and creative lyrics combined with his local knowledge shine in this simple and uncluttered production. Together with Smith's riotous dance routines to Thriller and Tina Turner's Simply The Best, this is a pantomime that puts the comedy back on centre stage.

Sean Scanlan as King Crumble, Tom McGovern as the villain Fleshcreep and Amy Creighton as Princess Apricot all add their own comic elements, and Creighton enthrals the audience with her delightful singing voice.

This well-crafted production proves that the traditional art of panto is alive, well and able to delight audiences without the trappings of 3D and excessive pyrotechnics. Jack and the Beanstalk is truly a giant among pantomimes