THIS is the third year that comic genius Tweedy has appeared in the Everyman’s panto – and I’m happy to report that Gloucestershire’s favourite clown is funnier than ever in this year’s traditional show.

Sleeping Beauty is this year’s offering, and a quality cast make this an action-packed treat from the word go. Sets and costumes are super but what makes this such fun is the gusto with which every cast member, from the smallest dancer to the good fairy on high, throws themselves into the performance.

William Elliott runs Tweedy a close second as audience favourite, with his portrayal of Nanny Nice Hands proving a real joy, especially in the slapstick scene with our hero. The baking didn’t quite live up to the Dick Whittington scene of 2012, which still ranks as my family’s all-time favourite, but it was great fun and just the right side of smutty to give the adults plenty to smirk about.

But panto is really for kids, even if some of the kids are getting a bit long in the tooth now, and Sleeping Beauty ticked every box to make this a festive treat for all ages. This had it all: a beautiful heroine (Eleanor Brown), the good Fairy Snow (Wendy Abrahams), the wicked Fairy Hysteria (Joanne Heywood), the handsome Prince (Kelli Maybank), all topped off by some classic clowning from Tweedy, now demonstrating his skills on not one but two ladders at a time, and on the trapeze.

My family all agreed we haven’t laughed so much in ages: if you need a tonic to cure the winter blues, look no further and book your tickets now.

Jane Leigh Sleeping Beauty is at The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham until 11 January 2015.