Much like Christmas itself, pantomime has to perform the difficult balancing act of pleasing the whole family on a tight budget.

For Cinderella, that means sponsorship courtesy of the Churchill insurance dog, who also makes an appearance in the show itself. But if “selling out” means The Hawth can literally sell out its big-budget panto with a star name, then it’s no bad thing.

Cinderella is a delightful helping of double entendres and daftness as Julian Clary returns as Dandini, aide-de-camp to straight man Prince Charming (Danny Bayne).

Clary is pitch perfect: silly, scathing and saucy, often all in the same line: “I’ll hold as many balls as I want”, springs to mind.

But as good as he is (and after nine years in panto, he’s very good), he doesn’t have to hold it together all by himself.

The solid cast includes Joe Tracini as an excellent Buttons (think Joe Pasquale via Norman Wisdom) with Stephen Carlile and Steven Kynman who are huge fun as the Ugly Stepsisters.

Bayne and Vicky Longley are the starlight-crossed lovers, while Philip Herbert and Rosemary Ashe add class as Baron Hardup and the Fairy Godmother.

The cast, dancers, costumes and sets fill the stage to make this a terrific (and good value) night out for the family with enough glitter and giggles to light up the winter nights.

* Call 01293 553636