The Courtyard panto is one of the venue’s most eagerly anticipated events, and this year’s production of Sleeping Beauty is sure to meet panto fans’ expectations.

A neat re-working of the traditional opening of the much-loved fairy tales dispenses with the fairies and their blessings for the newly born princess, followed by the delivery of a curse and an attempt to mitigate its impact, making the story instead one of childhood friendships and rivalries.

So we meet Princess Melody, her best friend Prince Dorian and the child no-one wants to play with, Hubbub. Jealous of the friends, Hubbub finds a spurious excuse to exact revenge and delivers the infamous curse, simultaneously causing Dorian to vanish into thin air.

In a kingdom infused with magic, where everyone (except the impressively inept Melody) casts spells with aplomb, the princess’s distraught parents make the owning of a spindle illegal and live their lives in constant fear. As Melody’s 18th birthday approaches, and a surprise party is planned, it looks as if they might have got away with it … but of course this is panto and of course they haven’t. Cue Hubbub making good on his evil promise by luring Melody into a hidden corner of the palace where a dreaded spindle sits … but this is a fairy tale and thanks to Queen Octavia and her magic, Melody survives, albeit in a deep sleep.

So far, so familiar, but the writing and directing team of Lyndsay Maples and Estelle van Warmelo haven’t left rescue in the hands of a single handsome prince and it’s a team effort, proving the value of pulling together and the strength of family, friends and community, to find Dorian and ensure the curse is lifted and a happy ever after can ensue … complete with redemption and a fairy tale ending for Dame Nancy Sonata and Hubbub (!).

The strong cast sees several familiar faces: Phylip Harries returns to play the saxiest Dame on any stage (his instrument used to great effect in the pre-wedding interlude – a welcome twist on the traditional singalong); Madeleine MacMahon (shades of Patricia Hodge as Miranda’s mum, anyone?) making the role of Queen Octavia uniquely her own, in partnership with Ellis Kerkhoven as the king trying to keep things under control; Craig Painting (who will ever forget last year’s Quiche Lorraine?) once again relishing his role as the baddie, but bringing the requisite degree of vulnerability to a man who doesn’t really want to be that bad. They are joined by Courtyard newbies Hayley Johnston as an enchanting Melody, Alec Porter as her prince and Danny Lane almost stealing the show as Dame Nancy’s boy, Frankie. Providing dance energy by the bucket load are Sophie-Nadia Taylor, Adam Morgan, Lennox Suckley and Alice Ballantyne with the Junior Chorus adding charm, enthusiasm and sparkle.

As always, there are stand-out moments – a madcap version, without a pear, a partridge or a lord-a-leaping, of The Twelve Days of Christmas involving kazoos, penny whistles and a gong, a uniquely re-fashioned washing machine and the unexpected appearance of a larger-than-life (no spoiler here) character who isn’t traditionally part of this particular story!

If you’re a fan of The Courtyard’s annual panto, you’ll have your tickets already. If you haven’t been, make this the year you go – no stars off the telly and no gimmicks, just a good story, well and wittily told and brought to the stage with conviction and charm.

Sleeping Beauty runs until Sunday, January 6. To book, call the box office on 01432 340555 or visit courtyard.org.uk