POPULAR panto Aladdin may be set in Peking, but The Broadway Theatre's production puts a twist on it which is, as one character points out, is "so Catford". Genie, (CBBC's Nicole Davis) is welded to her mobile and her magic word seems to be "whatever" when she is rubbed up the wrong way, also there is a skinny white boy with his baseball cap on backwards (Ian Jones as Wisheee Washee) who seems to think he is Snoop Dogg and lots of disturbances broken up by the police.

Talking of the boys in blue, Abanazar, is played by The Bill stalwart Mark Wingett. He is a revelation. After spending 21 years playing DC Jim Carver and saying "cup of tea, Sarge?" so many times he was in danger of getting RSI of the vocal chords, he seems to relish the role of the show's dastardly villain. Eyes and teeth gleaming with malevolence, he booms out his lines and draws out every last boo and hiss from the excitable crowd.

Also drawing plenty of screams was panto hunk Aladdin, played by Chris Park, of boyband Phixx (no, me neither), who holds most of his charisma in his hair but does share a couple of nice duets with Princess Jasmine (Rochelle Wiseman of S Club redux S Club 8.) Best of all, though, for me, was John Breener as Widow Twankey. He was an immediate hit with the audience and one of them, John, was a big hit with him. Targeting the hapless viewer as a possible suitor, the plus-sized dame had him squirming when he asked: "Do you like a big bird at Christmas, John?" From then he rattled off a procession of slightly risque jokes which sailed over the heads of the youngsters.

For my son this was his first panto and he couldn't have hoped for a better introduction. He laughed and screamed all the way through and managed to eat close to his own body weight in chocolate.

Aladdin is a genie-us panto kids and adults will love. Go see it.

At The Broadway, Catford, until Jan 6. Box office 020 8690 0002.