Beauty and the Beast at Ipswich New Wolsey until January 26.IT'S a sure sign that Christmas is coming when the Rock and Roll pantomime opens at the New Wolsey - and this year the company is giving us a real treat.

Beauty and the Beast at Ipswich New Wolsey until January 26.

IT'S a sure sign that Christmas is coming when the Rock and Roll pantomime opens at the New Wolsey - and this year the company is giving us a real treat.

Beauty and the Beast is a traditional panto tale, but once again this production gives it a unique Ipswich twist.

All the actors are also talented musicians. They all play a mixture of instruments from guitars to drums to saxophones and trumpets.

And the various elements come together to bring a splendid evening's entertainment to the stage.

Sarah Mahony and Matthew Quinn are superb in the title roles, bringing glamour and real energy to their roles.

They get superb support from the rest of the cast, especially Justin Brett as the obligatory dame Bessie Bigbreaths (although I did have to check her name in the programme at the interval).

All the other characters bring their own sense of humour to the show which is, in its jokes if not in the music, very traditional.

Some of the jokes might be considered near the knuckle, but most of these will go right over the heads of younger members of the audience while giving something for their parents to titter at!

Overall the balance is just about perfect - it is a truly wonderful evening's entertainment.

And best of all, this year's rock and roll panto is very different from last year's offering - there certainly is not the feeling that you have seen it before.

Now the panto has opened at the New Wolsey there is a real feeling that the Christmas season has started - and everyone left the theatre with a broad smile on their face.

This is the perfect antidote to the wintertime blues.

Paul Geater.