Earlier this month, the News Shopper asked its younger readers if they wanted to be a theatre reviewer for a night and many did. This week the winners of our competition tell us what they thought about the seven biggest pantos in the area this year and there's no holds barred!

Kerry Brown writes about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a spectacular show bringing the original fairytale to life. Produced by Jim Davidson, as usual, there is a comedian, this time called Muddles (Andy Ford).

Of Course, the original characters have stayed: Snow White (Letitia Dean), Prince Danilo (Stephen Dean), Queen Esmerelda (Susan Maughan) and the dwarves.

But new characters have been fitted in: the queen's henchman, Jason (Martin Ball), Dame Donut (Bryan Burdon), Muddles and Fairy Kindheart (Emma Jane Hardy).

The dancing was fantastic throughout the pantomime. Superb hand-clapping songs (including some of Walt Disney's) created a sea of clapping hands of people in the audience. The stars' efforts in showing the characters' expressions and feelings as in reality were wonderful and their singing was impressive.

The scenes were carefully detailed and the music helped to create the mood of the scenes and characters. The villains (Queen Esmerelda and Jason) did a good job because we loved to hate them. It was very humorous and kept everybody laughing.

The costumes were also colourful and impressive.

It is a fantastic pantomime and will make a brilliant outing. Personally, I thought it was a fabulous performance by all and I recommend it to adults and children of all ages. I went with my mum and my two sisters, Victoria, aged six, and Gemma, aged eight. We thoroughly enjoyed it and so did the people around us.

Really a ten-out-of-ten pantomime. A must for family entertainment this Christmas.

Snow White, until January 20, box office 01322 220000.

December 20, 2001 12:26