Sleeping Beauty at Mansfield Palace Theatre is a festive cracker packed with fun, laughter and sparkle . . .

Fun, laughter and sparkle are the festive mix which will take you on a fantasy journey of curses, romance, slapstick humour and the usual boos and hisses. Sleeping Beauty has it all, including some stunning on-stage visual effects.

And while Sleeping Beauty herself may have been put to sleep for 100 years under the curse of the evil Carabosse, the packed theatre was very much alive with excitement.

Vicky Entwistle, better known as loudmouth Janice Battersby in Coronation Street, as Carabosse was fantastic.

She also showed her talent for singing as she produced a stunning all-round performance, which was simply brilliant as the typecast panto villain.

There were also great performances from the rest of the cast.

Silly Billy (Adam Moss) and the hilarious Charles Burden, back again at the Palace as Nanny Glucose brought the house down with their laugh-a-minute gags.

Sleeping Beauty is packed with songs and dance, fantastic costumes and a fabulous set.

As per usual, local towns were subjected to light-hearted mocking - including Chesterfield, which always goes down well with a partisan Mansfield audience!

Special mention should also go to the youngsters from the Expressions Academy of Performing Arts and the Academy of Dance, who dazzled with some eye-catching routines.

And there is also an appearance by former Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest, Alice Kurylo, as one of the villagers - adding a touch of glamour to proceedings.

All in all Sleeping Beauty provides a fun-packed Christmas panto which has everything for all ages.

It truly is a must see . . .

Sleeping Beauty runs until 4th January. Ticket details are available on 01623 633133.