DUNMOW Pantomime Group won public praise by the bucket-load as they presented Aladdin at the Foakes Hall this year. Audiences packed out the venue for six performances and were treated to a thoroughly professional and at times hilarious pantomime with wit

DUNMOW Pantomime Group won public praise by the bucket-load as they presented Aladdin at the Foakes Hall this year.

Audiences packed out the venue for six performances and were treated to a thoroughly professional and at times hilarious pantomime with wit and local banter a plenty.

Before the show its popularity was evident as people young and old clambered for the remaining tickets on the door.

The show began with children, from Dunmow Theatre School, dressed in Chinese costume filling the stage to sing opening number Happy Talk from stage production South Pacific, which turned out to be great indication of what was to follow as renditions ranged from Take That's Shine to A Whole New World taken from the Disney version.

The group's 50 years of experience shone through with the two silly policemen played by Rob Beard and Matt Blanks providing the laughs and Aladdin, played by Katie Savill, and Lauren Headley as Princess Balroubador, offering beautiful singing voices.

Director Belinda Savill said: "The tradition is something we dearly want to carry on, some of us have been involved for 30-40 years either on stage or behind the scenes. Next year we will be doing Cinderella.