St Mark's Players Stanley Halls, South Norwood

WHAT a clever script this was – combined with great music and super costumes and scenery.

Written and directed by Emma Gray and Leanne Waterhouse, this 'Spamalot meets Hans Christian Andersen' tale took the audience on a trip down memory lane reliving many childhood fairytale moments, though each fairytale character had been given a twist.

It was wonderful fun to see Goldilocks outrageously flirting with Alex, yet married to Old MacDonald; all the princesses living in a retirement home and Hansel and Gretel, having been thrown out of the Gingerbread House by the council, living with Jack and Jill – with Rapunzel as their slave!

The cast continued the high standards of the traditional St Mark's pantomime entertaining the audience with humour, action and song to the delight of all ages with the usual high emphasis on fun and audience participation.

Families were clearly having a whale of a time with the children up and dancing. Don't Stop Me Now was a terrific finale.

I have enjoyed each one of the Players' last 10 productions – but this was a cut above.

And the Players put on this show against all the odds in a sadly, poorly maintained Stanley Halls – I just hope the petition the audience signed to urge the council to get their act together and provide funds to refurbish and maintain this once lovely theatre has the desired effect.

Clare Gingell