HAVING been nominated for a National Operatic and Dramatic Association award for each of last season’s productions, audiences had great expectations for this year’s Sodbury Players' pantomime.

And if 2012’s outstanding Aladdin was anything to go by, every member of every sold out performance at each show at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall would not leave disappointed.

With rehearsals underway since last autumn, endless hours spent creating and painting the impressive scenery, countless props sourced and even National Lottery voiceover man Alan Dedicoat persuaded to record some personalised messages to be played, the players were ready to panto.

Francesca Hinton was simply dazzling as the beautiful Snow White - her powerful voice matched with all the elegance and poise such a Disney princess requires.

Lucy Childs, as our hero Prince Gallant, was, well, gallant. Another strong vocal performance complimented well the score of recent pop songs, lyrically adapted to fit the story, and provided a moment of magic in a duet with Francesca to Bruno Mars’ Marry You.

A plethora of comical characters delivered one-liner after one-liner, up-to-date quips and more jokes than most stand up routines would include. And of course, no pantomime would be complete without the essential slapstick scenes which were in plentiful supply with haphazard logs, some clumsy plant potting, a well with a mind of its own and the odd custard pie thrown in for good measure.

Leading the comedy performances was players’ favourite James Murden as the clown of the bunch, Muddles. Always on hand with an off the cuff ad-lib, he also served to involve audience with words to shout out at various points, sing-songs and the obligatory children-on-stage section in the latter stages of the show.

Pete Williamson proved a wonderful dame as Nurse Nettles, with some very creative costumes including being styled as a Sat Nav and arriving on a Segway. Joe Moore, as a very camp and glittery magic mirror, was a surprising star who added more to his role than required, proving himself to be one to watch.

Woodcutters Rip (Julian Hinton) and Saw (Je-An Shields) gave stand-out performances with Rip's character mimicking Boycie from Only Fools and Horses proving a particularly brilliant call.

But the star of the show, if there has to be just one, was without doubt Chipping Sodbury singer and actress Katie Salt as the adorable dwarf Do-pee. Not only did she show off her vocal capabilities on occasion, Katie’s facial expressions and hilarious dancing was on the money throughout the entire show.

A further six very talented dwarves and a chorus of enthusiastic young dancers and singers backed up this fun-loving cast who clearly enjoyed every minute of the two-and-a-half hour panto.

To their credit, this year the players have not rested on their laurels. With many professional theatres opting for the same formulaic pantomimes, directors Diane Owen and Ross Brown brought in some subtle differences to shake things up a little for their loyal Chipping Sodbury audiences. And it worked, Snow White was another resounding success and will no doubt be nominated for another award next year.