THREE Bears Productions boldly proclaims Aladdin to be York’s Biggest Ever Panto! Well, that’s certainly York’s biggest ever panto claim, but also a welcome indication of a very necessary changing of the panto guard at the Grand Opera House.

Your reviewer will not mourn the passing of Simon Barry’s sterile years that cried out constantly for better scripts, better gags, better designs and props. York deserved better as a commercial panto alternative to Dame Berwick Kaler’s post-modern music hall pantomimes at the Theatre Royal.

And glory be, better has come along with Three Bears Productions, a new company with the Grand Opera House in their pantomime DNA. Producer Chris Moreno once ran the Cumberland Street Theatre and has 200 pantomime scripts in his files; Russ Spencer rose above the mundane in two shows and now company manages Aladdin; Stuart Wade, for so long the saving grace of Barry’s shows, rightly graduates to director. Crucially too, after an experimental year on dame duty, he returns to daft-lad antics as Wishee Washee.

York Press:

Wade in, Wade in: Stuart Wade returns to Wishee Washee daft-lad mode in Aladdin. Picture: David Harrison

These Three Bears have made so many right decisions. Firstly, write a fresh script, expressly for York, with Moreno enjoying teasing mockery of Fulford, Dringhouses and Harrogate, rather than tired old digs at Tang Hall; complemented by corny old favourites, nods to cast members’ CVs, and topical references to Brexit, Trump, The Mannequin Challenge craze and even the risible Honey G from the worst ever X Factor series.

Secondly, give the Opera House decent sets, courtesy of Alan Miller-Bunford, and vastly improved costume designs, especially the laundrette marigold glove dress for Steve Wickenden’s Widow Twankey; raise the roof with a hydraulic-lift magic carpet ride for Carl Tracey’s Aladdin; and introduce a wow factor with 3D glasses for the second half’s ghosts-and-creepy crawlies scene.

York Press:

Stuart Wade's Genie of the Lamp and Debbie McGee's Genie of the Ring. Picture: David Harrison

Past GOH panto casts have stoically given their all, but this company is an upgrade in every way. From the old-school come the lovely and sweetly fun Debbie McGee’s Genie of the Ring and Frazer Hines’s amusingly zealous Emperor of China with more quips than usual to boot.

From Hear’Say and the world of musicals arrives Suzanne Shaw’s pop-singing Princess Yasmin, bonding delightfully with Go! Go Go!’s buff-bodied Carl Tracey’s cheeky chappy Aladdin, who is the full package: good singer, good mover, good company at all times. Shaw and Tracey’s mash-up of Katie Melua’s The Closest Thing To Crazy and Will Young’s Leave Right Now is a first-half stand-out, and Dean McDermott’s musical direction draws the best from the company.

York Press:

Touching moment: Carl Tracey's Aladdin and Suzanne Shaw's Princess Yasmin. Picture: David Harrison

If anything, director and driving force Stuart Wade’s infectious energy has become even more contagious in a show with bags of pace. His transformation from Wishee Washee to Genie of the Lamp is an unexpected extra bow that works a treat and his tongue-twisting verbal game with young audience volunteers trying to say “felt smart” (think about it) is a gem. Meanwhile, returnee Emily Taylor’s choreography is crisp and zesty, topped off by her cameo as So Shy.

Steve Wickenden’s Widow Twankey may not be on the promotional posters but he is a young dame with a big future; confident, risque, quick to improvise when the chance allows and well able to carry a song, in this case Little Mix’s Shout Out To My Ex. Sign him up for next year.

York Press:

Paul Sinha: deadpan debut in pantomime as Abanazar. Picture: David Harrison

Paul Sinha, the Sinnerman, is the novice, discovering how different pantomime timing is from the freedom of his stand-up comedy. His natural manner is deadpan, not impossible to turn to his advantage as Abanazar, but The Chase star needs to trust his own stage craft rather than chase the villain’s lines down blind alleys. Don’t be afraid to slow it down; drink in the boos, act up the disdain. Hopefully, the nerves will settle.

Aladdin is a wish come true as Three Bears Productions launches a magic carpet ride of a new start for pantomime at the Grand Opera House.

Three Bears Productions presents Aladdin, Grand Opera House, York, until January 1. Box office: 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com