AN AMERICAN I know thought pantomime was a play without words performed by gay actors, and definitely not family entertainment.

He couldn't understand the link with Christmas. Men called dames and women called principal boys, whatever next!

Oldham's show is panto as a traditional artform, not smutty innuendo.

Adele Parry, in high boots, slaps her thighs in true panto fashion, her tap dancing sequence showing why she also is choreographer of the show.

Francesca Ellis sings her heart out as Jack's true love Annie. Her stunning vocal talent gained her the role of Cosette in the touring version of Les Miserables.

Multi-talented John Elkington undertakes his first role as Dame, and what a winner.

His Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, outfit brought the house down. Danny, village idiot extraordinaire, amiably played by Paul David-Gough, knows how to talk to the kids.

He plays them like a fiddler, getting all the traditional responses.

Big baddy Slurp, looking like Shrek on a bad day, was all over the theatre, working the kids up and being horrible to everyone.

It was hard to picture Paul Oldham, whose normal acting persona is hard man, under the green makeup. Family fun at its very best.

Jack and the Beanstalk, Oldham Coliseum, until January 19