Newport Pantomime and Musical Society, now in its 37th year of performing at Newport's Dolman Theatre, again hit the right note with its latest offering, Sleeping Beauty.

Playing until January 12, the society demonstrated that amateur panto is still very much alive in the city.

Colourful costumes, clever choreography and a mix of traditional and current music ensured the production appealed to all ages.

Gerald Needs played a superb dame' in the guise of Nanny Nora, finding a perfect ally in Andy Murphy as the hapless Barney.

Together they provided the comedy (with all the traditional local references) kept the continuity, engaged the children in the audience and shared a superb slapstick piece involving wallpaper, lots of paste and... I'm sure you can guess the rest!

Natasha Griffiths as Prince Michael and Kelly Sheppard as Princess Aurura complemented each other well, note-perfect in some difficult numbers and both giving very credible performances.

A panto isn't complete without a baddie, and Lee-Rose Walsh more than rose to the occasion, playing the meaty Carabosse with a maturity beyond her years.

The well-rehearsed chorus and dancers from the Vanessa Clarke School of Dancing heightened the production without overpowering it.

While not without its mishaps (as is the panto way)this traditional, family entertainment remains a winning formula.