OF all the impressive things about this year’s Courtyard panto, perhaps the most impressive is how cleverly writer Lyndsay Maples has introduced a pantomime dame to a show that doesn’t usually include the broad humour associated with the role.

Lyndsay’s script and Estelle van Warmelo’s direction have combined to create an outstanding panto this year, one that loses none of the essential sweetness of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast yet contains everything anyone could want in a panto. The Beast, played by Andrew Lindfield looks beastly and menacing on his bouncy stilts, and Arabella Rodrigo is an engaging Belle. Dancers Jessica Hathaway and Heather Scott-Martin as Belle’s sisters Chou-Fleur and Mange Tout were delightfully giggly and Jonathan Ball was convincingly French as her father. Lyndsay Maples returned to the dark side this year, after playing a good fairy in last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk, attacking the role of Brimstone with obvious relish.

But the highest praise has to go to Nick Smithers as Dame Foufou, a beautifully judged dame who had an instant connection with the audience. His reprise of Robert Webb’s now legendary Flashdance routine was glorious, and he proved that a successful dame doesn’t have to go way way over the top to get the dame dynamic spot on. His/her double act with Paul Lawrence-Thomas as Dame Foufou’s hapless son Lugg was a hilarious example of the traditional panto slapstick routine.

Add some truly dramatic special effects, a striking set and lots of great songs, dancing from Jessica, Heather, Craig and Jonathan supplemented by eight local youngsters, and you have an absolute cracker of a panto.

Beauty and the Beast runs until January 9 at The Courtyard. To book, call 01432 340555 or visit courtyard.org.uk