The charming Chipping Norton Theatre has always had an intimacy and warmth that I associate with music halls of old, and for this sold-out Friday night performance of this year’s pantomime the audience were raring to go, even before the show began. When Waylon the Weasel commanded us to switch off our phones were we couldn’t wait to boo, applaud, laugh, scream, and sing along to everything.

Rapunzel sings to us straight away as she gazes out from her tower, wishing to break free. Then we immediately rewind eighteen years to when she was born.

Evergreen is a happy land, famous for its lettuce and parsley, and the king and queen are going to name their baby today. There is a Tyrolean-style song and dance to take us there, and we are introduced to the young Rudi, brimming with cockiness, and Nanny, who is excited about today, though she almost gives away the name of the child. But everything is hijacked by Gothel, who has a grudge (the parsley used to be hers), who steals the baby.

Now, eighteen years later, Rapunzel is stuck in her tower, with her ‘mother’ Gothel, and a very long head of hair. Rudi and Nanny, and young Scout Max, are on the hunt to find her, and they do, but that’s just the beginning of their problems....

There is excellent balance in the storytelling of this show. By the time we reach the interval Rapunzel’s future is in the balance and her relationship with Rudi, which we wanted to go well, is fractious. After the interval everything speeds up – the action moves from a pirate ship to the English Channel, then on to the beach at Dover and the fierce customs officers (Ms. Jobs and Mr. Worth) of England-on-the-Wold, and then back to Evergreen and the Strawberry Cream Tea Joust. Of course, everything turns out well for everyone, even Gothel and her Weasel.

All the ingredients of a good pantomime are here, and they are woven into a strong, lively, well-paced production by director David Ashley. There is a great ensemble of actors fronting it all, and I sensed the input of a whole team of creatives working with generosity, spirit, and charm. The lighting, sound, music, set design – everything - was given to us with professionalism and affection. And we lapped it up – who wouldn’t?