With gleaming costumes, sparkly decor, scintillating choreography and shining performances throughout, this has got to be pantomime at its most glittering.

Drenched in fairy dust, Eric Potts’ rollicking script somehow avoids cheapening the familiar tale, while skillfully sneaking in a wealth of lowbrow Merseyside jokes and corny comedy routines for the children along with a smattering of below-the-belt giggles aimed at the grown-ups.

Stellar performances include Coleen Nolan’s sumptuously crinolined Fairy Godmother getting everyone in the mood for dancing at Prince Charming’s ball, Shaun Mason’s squeaky-voiced Buttons creating comedy gold out of antique panto jokes and Liz McClarnon injecting girl power into the romantic title role. Pauline Daniels’ uproarious Pixie proves that you don’t need a stockinged feller to play Ugly Sister at full spite. By comparison, local radio presenter Pete Price’s sibling-in-crime Peaches seems almost demure.

Billy Boyle lends solid support as a beaming Baron Fazakerley and elf-like child dance duo Tayleur and Elliot make an utterly beguiling feature appearance in a production that’s rich in every sense.