Cinderella at the Lighthouse in Kettering will fill you with Christmas cheer

This year's spectacular, Cinderella, features all the ingredients you'd expect for a fantastic couple of hours' entertainment - plus a fair few you won't be expecting as well!

The performance starts at pace and the rate never lets up after that, leaving audiences breathless and grinning from ear to ear well before the end.

Star of the show Ed Petrie, as Buttons, is really good value for money - the CBBC presenter is also a stand-up comedian and you can see he is totally comfortable in front of a live crowd.

The younger members of the audience responded really well to him as a familiar face from TV, while mums and dad will appreciate his warmth and enthusiasm - and hilarious Elvis impersonation...

Yes, this is not a completely faithful adaptation of the folk tale. As well as an appearance from the King of Rock 'n' Roll, you can look forward to seeing some amazing dance routines, hearing some terrible jokes, and marvelling at some tremendous special effects - you will believe a horse can fly!

The whole cast are top-notch, from Melissa Jane Fleming as Cinderella to Imogen Brooke as Prince Charming and Danielle Haywood as Dandini.

One of the best things about Cinderella as a panto, though, is that you get to have two panto dames in the guise of the ugly sisters.

And the squabbling siblings in this production absolutely stole every scene.

Harry Howle and Chris Aukett are just fantastic as Cinderella's twin tormentors Flora and Marge - so over the top you can't help but laugh before they even say a word! Just watch out if you're sitting in the front row...

Or anywhere, for that matter - there is plenty of audience involvement with the action occasionally taking place off stage, and so much 'he's behind you!' that my seven-year-old was left with a croaky voice afterwards.

If you're not full of Christmas spirit before you see Cinderella, I can guarantee you will be by the end - in fact, you'll have a ball.