WHEN it comes to pantomime, you can expect a little bit of role swapping. But Bristol Old Vic’s new Christmas production of Sleeping Beauty has caused a more than a slight stir with its ‘modern’ interpretation of the age-old fairy tale.

Don’t go expecting a handsome prince to swoop down and awaken a sleeping Aurora in this show – Oh No! - for the sleeping beauty in this show is a man. A Prince called Percy, to be exact, and he is awakened from his slumber not by a kiss, but by CPR! The elderly witches who keep their magic in their knitting needles aren’t exactly conventional either.

There has been some extreme over-reaction to the changing roles, but Tory MP Peter Bone’s assertion that this is “political correctness gone mad” is extreme, to say the least. Come on, this is pantomime, for goodness sake!

This production is in fact two tales – Sleeping Beauty and an old Welsh folk tale called The Leaves Tha Hung but Never Grew. Although traditionalists might find the merging of the two tales a bit cumbersome, the result for me was an exciting new story that didn’t have me thinking ‘I know what happens next’. In fact, the basic problem with most pantomimes is keeping the kids engaged, so this is neatly avoided by using a brand new narrative.

But you must remember that this is the Old Vic, and you don’t go to one of their shows expecting a re-hash of the ‘same old, same old’. The theatre is renowned for its stunning interpretations which hold their audiences spellbound from start to finish – and that’s something you don’t get from any old common-or-garden pantomime. Those who have previously been enthralled by The Little Mermaid or Swallows and Amazons will certainly not be disappointed.

As always, every aspect of the set is superb, from the musicians who introduce the show to the quality of acting. The set, as always at the Old Vic, is relatively simple but incredibly effective, and the lighting, when used to its greatest effect, is simply spectacular.

Every one of the actors works their socks off from the very first minute to the last, with enough comic touches and wacky costumes to keep the laughter coming. Perhaps deserving pf particular praise should be Stu Goodwin, whose ‘Sylvia’ was actually the wickedest witch the world has ever seen!

Full marks to Sally Cookson for daring to break the mould, because this Christmas show is a real Beauty!

Sleeping Beauty continues at Bristol Old Vic until Sunday, January 17. For more info and to book tickets, visit bristololdvic.org.uk