More than 600 schoolchildren cheered, jeered, clapped and sang their way through Telford’s latest pantomime – and loved every minute.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opened at Oakengates Theatre @ The Place yesterday to a rapturous reception from capacity crowds, including youngsters from St Luke’s Catholic Primary School in Trench.

The seats were rocking before the pantomime even started as youngsters clapped and sang along to Christmas classics.

But the mood quickly changed as The Wicked Queen – alias Emmerdale and Waterloo Road TV star Kay Purcell – entered the stage to a chorus of hisses and boos.

It took less than a minute for the traditional “Oh Yes I Am – Oh No You’re Not” actor-audience panto exchange to come out of the bag as the youngsters clearly disagreed with Queen Griselda’s assertion that she was indeed the fairest of them all.

Purcell, who played Fiona Daggart in the ITV soap, is the big name in this year’s panto and played the “baddie” to perfection.

Jokes

But, as always with pantos, it is often the funnymen who steal the show and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is no exception.

Dame Dolly Dumpling, alias Chris Casserly, proved an immediate hit when he/she came on stage by throwing free sweets and crisps into an audience that screamed for them like they had never been fed.

Some of the jokes could have been tailored for the audience as they were clearly aimed at adults and delivered to children, but that would be nit-picking.

However, the real stars of the show were the returning comedy duo, Francis and Wheatley, who had the youngsters rolling in the aisles as Freddie and Eddie.

They soaked the audience with water and mercilessly took the mickey out of one poor teacher, which made them an instant hit with 90 per cent of the crowd.

This is a fine panto that has something for all ages and will be enjoyed by most who attend.

The pantomime runs in Oakengates until January 3, with performances on most days at 2pm and 8pm.

Tickets are available by calling (01952) 382382.

By Wayne Beese