With a growing beanstalk, a blundering 10ft giant and Clarabelle the dancing cow, panto season has begun at Chatham’s Central Theatre.

Jack and the Beanstalk, produced by Jordan Productions, stars Olympic champion Robin Cousins, CBBC’s Hannah-Jane Fox, Hollyoaks star Joe Tracini, West End performer Tracey Penn and panto dame Ian Mowat.

This is the third year Jordan Productions have put on the Central Theatre’s panto and the company are really beginning to settle in to the venue, using all aspects of the auditorium to draw the audience in to the world of Stoneybroke.

The cast, script, songs and costumes had the audience laughing, booing and clapping along from the start.

The vocal performances were excellent, complimented by wonderful choreography and it was wonderful to see Robin can still pull off a few tricks on a pair of skates.

From a rendition of the Ugly Bug Ball to an appearance of Trotty G, Chris Jordan’s pantomime brings together the traditions of pantomime with modern cultural references.

There were jokes for adults and jokes for children as always plenty of audience participation, a must see for all the family this Christmas.

I watched the show with Jude, aged five, who said: “It was really good. My favourite character was Simon, Jack’s brother, because he came out in his pyjamas and I liked it when his mum told him off.

“I liked it when Jack’s mum was sitting on the chair singing and the spider ran away when they saw her.

“The giant was scary because he was big and looked at me but it was a happy ending.

“I got to meet Simon at the end and he said hi and gave me some sweets which I really liked.”

Jack and the Beanstalk is at the Central Theatre, Chatham, until Saturday, December 31. To book, call 01634 338338 or visit www.medwayticketslive.co.uk