NINETY five per cent of tickets have sold for Sleeping Beauty, so don't nod off like Martha Gosnold's snoring Fairy Snow Flake, book asap instead.

Gosnold, in her pink boots, red and white stockings and party dress is an instant hit in her first Rowntree panto, full of life and humour and energetic dance moves, playing Flakey in tandem with Graham Smith's daft-as-ever dame, Ophelia.

Smith is this community show's coxswain, steering its path, sometimes a little off-piste, a couple of occasions close to the edge with risque gags probably better suited to a Jim Davidson blue pantomime. His face is a picture of innocence as he says them, mind you.

Producer/writer Howard Ella and co-writer Andy Welch have delivered on their promise of "another brand new rollicking romp of a panto" with a fast-moving, snappy script, full of puns galore, topical gags, slapstick and more than a dash of irreverence. In particular, the "Alexa" send-up, re-named "Silly", is spot on.

New director Gemma McDonald has settled in straight away with an assured debut, where her casting pays off: from inviting choreographer Ali Carter to enter the dark side as Malificent, the haughty villain, to seeing Julie Blackburn make the most of her return as Queen Brunhilde after a few years' away with a glorious Panto Samba.

Marie-Louise Surgenor's Fairy Godmother, Daisy Blue Ella's Princess Aurora and Hannah King's Prince Loreal are as reliable as ever; Andy Welch parades yet another accent, German this time, as King Otto, and Sian Davies and Meg Baldrick are an entertaining double act as Rusty-Bell and Turnip-Leaf.

Jess Douglas's band and Carter's choreography, especially for the ensemble numbers, are another highlight, and like Tiddles, the dragon, this Sleeping Beauty is on fire.

Sleeping Beauty, Rowntree Players, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday. Box office: 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk