ON a day when supporters of Thurrock's Thameside Theatre were left sickened by news that they seem set to lose their much-loved venue – there was the consolation of an evening of belly-laughs at the neighbouring Towngate Theatre in Basildon.

If you are a fan of naughty, smutty and at times damn right silly humour then the 200 seat Mirren Studio at the Towngate is the place to be – and the fun of adult pantomine SlipinElla there will run until 29 January.

The contrast between the approach of Basildon and Thurrock Councils to their local theatres is remarkable. In Thurrock the Thameside has suffered from a lack of attention, commitment and downright disregard from the borough council.

But Basildon has not one, but two theatres in its modern, comfortable Towngate complex.

This evening (Tuesday, 17 January) saw the start of the run of SlipinElla, written, directed and produced by Thurrock's own Luke Coldham – fresh from yet another triumph in the Thameside panto Beauty and the Beast, ironically a record-breaking run.

It may well be the last that will be staged there but if it is, at least there is the consolation of being able to enjoy live entertainment just down the road – and if you like your fun to be a bit (actually a lot) filthy this is a show for you.

The Thurrock connection in SlipinElla is strong. As well as the rather splendid Mr Coldham, it features another Thurrock icon in Jordan Gray who turns in a foul-mouthed but ridiculously funny performance as Fairy Hanny! Also fresh from the Thameside is John Oakes as Buttons and a number of the tech crew also transferred.

How sad that they may no longer have a home on their local turf.

But enough of despairing over the inadequacies of Thurrock Council. The fearless company of actors that Coldham Productions has brought together for its fifth adult panto (the first was at the Thameside in 2017 when 'The Only Way is Dick' went down a storm) delighted a packed audience with a mixture of lewd, clever and corny jokes, a raunchy plot and blatant sexual innuendo. Actually, some of the script went far beyond innuendo!

If you are a woke or fan of the 'politically correct' for God's sake don't go. If, on the other hand you have a liberal sense of humour, the ability to poke fun at yourself as well as your friends and you don't take life too seriously, then this is a night out for you.

Mind you, you'll have to be quick to book tickets, there has already been a strong demand for seats and several nights in the run are already sold out.

Check out the Towngate's box office for details. Following opening night there are 19 shows crammed into 11 days. The cast and crew are certainly going to earn their wages. It's a fast and furious show that is a dastardly corruption of a fairy tale classic.

Adorable - Luke Coldham and Josh Handley.

All the elements of Cinderella are there – including two ferocious and feisty ugly sisters. Take a bow (again) Mr Coldham and his comedy partner Josh Handley – who has crafted not just a friendship but also a cracking comedy partnership with Luke over the years – including a family version of the same story at the Thameside a couple of years ago. They are adorable together! Well, opinions vary….

Sharing the limelight is John Oakes who literally presses all the right comedy Buttons. His improvisation skills are second to none and when he goes off script he really is in a class of his own.

Not that he is alone in that, some of the gags on opening night were conjured by out of cast mistakes and audience participation – live performance at its best.

The headline act is Jordan Gray and she doesn't disappoint – every bit as lewd as the rest of them and the possessor of real comedic talent. The road to fame has been long and a right of passage for her through transition, but she really is a genuine talent to behold.

The rest of the cast all contribute, Killian McIntosh is a very rude Baron Hardon, the gloriously endowed Josh Harrison Yellop a Prince among men and his Dildoni, Thomas Andrew Smith, a Princess among the same gender.

Stitching it all together in the title role is Ali James as Ella and she really is a talent that can hold centre stage and belt out a tune. Her list of 'serious' credits shows the depth of her ability.

The ensemble cast pitch in too – as do the stage crew. The Mirren Studio isn't the biggest, but every inch of it is worked and the first half ends in spectacular fashion. There are many highlights but for me, and I won't spoil it with too much detail, is a number featuring Messrs Coldham, Handley and Oakes in the second act. I was literally blown away (the only clue) and it's a sketch that genuinely brought tears to my eyes and rumbles of laughter from my belly.

This isn't going to be a show that is to everyone's taste. As I said, it's rude, it features crude and filthy language, it's not in any way, shape or form politically correct but it's bloody good fun and for the next couple of weeks it will certainly be blowing away the January blues in Basildon.

SlipinElla runs until Sunday, 29 January. For more details and to book, click here.