A WEEK or so ago this reviewer was somewhat testy about the production of Dick Whittington at Basildon's Towngate Theatre – a production that is always well-visited by the Thurrock public.

It was – and remains – a superb show but I did not get a true sense of pantomime. Some of the traditional magic was missing and it didn't quite feel like Christmas.

Turn the clock on few days and the invitation to review another version of this traditional tale, this time at Thurrock's very own Thameside Theatre, was a welcome arrival.

And by golly (or should it be holly) this didn't disappoint.

Polka Dot Productions have now staged a series of pantos at the homely Grays venue and they certainly know how to stretch a limited budget to the very maximum.

The theoretical star of the show is a Love Island celebrity – Wes Nelson. I have to admit I have never watched a second of this reality TV show but I know it is very popular and no doubt the fact that one of its participants has now been elevated to the ranks of the famous will draw in quite a few of his fans to the show in which he takes the title role.

And, to be fair, he doesn't disappoint. He can carry a tune, he has a bit of stage presence and I'm sure the ladies in the audience will swoon over his six pack!

But there's no doubt who carries this production.

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Luke Coldham grows closer every year to finally shaking loose the shackle of invincibility that local hero Damian Williams created over several years of donning drag and grabbing the laughs on the Thameside stage. Luke is cut from the same mould, he simply vibrates with the spirit of panto and makes the best use of every second of his time on stage. He's still a young man and, if he can keep the energy and enthusiasm going, for decades to come he is going to leave a stellar legacy in the annals of panto dame history.

Luke is backed up by a great cast – who are clearly enjoying themselves.

And Polka Dot pull out a few technical tricks that add to the magic of the evening. I won't spill the beans other than to say that in the air – and under water – the magic is delivered in spades.

There's a delightful villain in King Rat, played with real gusto by Richard Burman and even if his nemesis Fairy Bowbells (Stacey Bland) misses a note here and there, she delivers glitz, glamour, warmth and humour to the stage every time she appears to a cascade of smoke and cheers.

Stage father and daughter Dominic McChesney and Alice Fillary are delightful as Alderman Fitzwarren and Dick's love interest Alice and their journey to happiness is enthusiastically supported by the acrobatic cat Tommy (superbly played by Daniel Foster) and a lively and endearing Idle Jack – John Oakes.

All the much-loved and iconic panto moments are in there. Tradition is not spared as sweets are thrown, a gorilla gets behind the characters and the singalong ends in the customary draw.

A supporting cast of young actors, dancers and local schoolchildren add to the magic of the evening and the creatives and crew, under the direction of Neil Couperthwaite and home grown stage manager Franki McEwan, make this a very polished affair.

There's a wide range and differing style of panto available at venues across south Essex this Christmas but if tradition floats your Christmas gravy boat, this is the one for you.

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More details via the 'additional info' link below.

Review by ThurrockNubNews Editor Neil Speight