QUICK off the mark, Tadcaster Theatre Company lead the charge with the first pantomime of the season, Snow White And The Several Dwarfs, at the Riley-Smith Hall, Tadcaster, from next Tuesday to Saturday.

Looking to match the success of last year's Sleeping Beauty And The Broken Bridge, company members are ready for curtain up for a show written by Andrew O'Leary. Audiences can expect all the traditional charm and humour of a good old-fashioned family panto but also a 21st century flavour in Becky Hawkins's role as a modern-day Snow White.

Along with the "several" dwarfs, Jim Birdsall's Serious Lee Dwarf and Tim Smithers' Honest Lee Dwarf, the plot features imps, a family of squirrels, trolls, chipmunks and Agents Browne, Greene, Scarlet and Orange in true 'Allo 'Allo! style.

Add the King and Evil Queen, played by husband and wife Ian and Beverley Goring; characters such as Linsey Fone's Prince Dan, Peter Fletcher's Fester, Tamsyn Chadwick's Boyle, Diane Eyers' Sorry, Carole Gledhill's Kidding and Violet Bell's Hu; then stir in a humorous script, catchy tunes and a sprinkling of magic dust.

No pantomime would be complete without its dame, but do not expect a conventional one in Tadcaster. Step forward Andrew Lloyd's Nana Ida Doolittle, bearded at present, but will the hirsute look, so reminiscent of Kenny Everett's Cupid Stunt, be shaved off come next Tuesday night? Wait and see.

Will Snow White win her Prince Dan? Will good conquer evil? Will you book tickets for the 7.30pm shows, next Tuesday to Friday, or the 1pm or 5pm performances on the Saturday, when there will be no evening show?

Bookings can be made at ticketsource.co.uk/tadcastertheatrecompany or on 07484 305436.