Dick Whittington (Hornchurch)

This Nicholas Pegg (book) and Carol Sloman (music and lyrics) version of the much-loved pantomime story serves up some interesting variations on the traditional theme. Alderman Fitzwarren (Sam Pay) has obviously been watching too many archaeological documentaries on television – he neglects his business to collect ancient artefacts.

Samuel Ward-Smith is just the sort of over-the-top oh-so-slightly-camp King Rat to take full advantage of such distraction. Opposing him is Lauren Brown's Fairy Bow Bells and Sam Kordbacheh as Tommy the Cat, a spruce black'n'white moggie with attitude – and claws. And, of course, there's our thigh-slapping hero Dick, a suitably boyish-behaving Alison Thea-Skot.

Dick, as well as King Rat, has eyes fixed on Alice Fitzwarren, a lass who Sarah Scowen makes into a feminine chip off the family block. Elliot Harper is the likeable but dim Idle Jack and Simon Jessop in the Dame role of Sarah the Cook displays some intriguing costumes and a good rapport with the audience.

Artistic director Bob Carlton's production is well served by Mark Walters' well thought-out sets and costumes. The latter have neat medieval touches with a balanced colour palette culminating in a red, white and blue glitter walk-down.

No voyage to Morocco in this version; instead we have some excellent 3-D adventures as the would-be adventurers are shipwrecked on the island of Mythaca. Not to mention a cat and rat chase right across the theatre, much to the delight of all the children – and quite a few adults – in the audience.