Hung up on flying Aladdin's magic carpet at Greenwich Theatre

AS A team of technicians waited expectantly on stage to strap me into a safety harness which closely resembled a Victorian torture device, I patted my belly and crossed my fingers, praying those mince pies eaten earlier wouldn’t put too much strain on the wires.

When I agreed to go on a magic carpet ride at Greenwich Theatre, ahead of seeing the venue’s pantomime Aladdin, I didn’t realise the illusion of flight was achieved by manually hoisting me up into the rafters and swinging me from side to side like a piece of old meat hung out to dry.

With my crown jewels squeezed into a pinching bunch by the harness straps, and at the mercy of the burly man in the wings pulling the strings, I struggled to feign the exhiliration of soaring through the sky to rescue the princess.

It’s hard to believe anyone could act like this, let alone sing, but the panto’s lead Adam Dougal pulls it off with barely a grimace, apparently claiming it is a freeing experience.

Unlike my performance, the scene is a stand-out moment in the show, thanks to some clever lighting hiding the wires.

The prop which is used for the carpet is, in reality, a painted wooden plank with tassels, superglued to the actor’s gold bling sneakers.

It felt more like the rug was riding me.

It’s a simple but effective and breathtaking trick, which is achieved thanks to the theatre and writer Andrew Pollard’s refusal to let a tiny budget get in the way of producing one of south east London’s best pantomimes.

Greenwich Theatre’s festive show has hardly put a foot wrong for years and it’s not because of the D-list celebrity cast — there are none.

“Some people hate going to see celebrities who stand there and can’t act,” says Pollard, who also plays panto dame Widow O’Twankey in this year’s show.

He said: “What we try and do is create a party atmosphere. It’s quite an intimate space so kids respond to that more.”

Pollard has been performing in and writing pantos for 15 years now and Aladdin is his 5th year playing a dame.

There’s nothing like a dame and there’s nothing like Pollard in a frock, but what really gives the show such a buzz is his sharp, fresh and funny script, which will have the adults, as well as the kids, rolling on the floor with laughter.

“What I try and do is silly humour,” Pollard explains.

“If we create the right atmosphere, adults become kids.”

Aladdin runs at Greenwich Theatre in Crooms Hill until January 8. To book tickets, call 020 8858 7755 or visit greenwichtheatre.org.uk