If you're going to do pantomime you might as well throw everything at it in my opinion and the Gala Theatre's show, a first panto of the season, does just that - in the best possible way.

The Durham theatre is always quick off the mark when it comes to the annual family treat and Cinderella got under way there on Thursday, although this year The Customs House in South Shields picked the same early opening night for its Aladdin. With other theatres set to follow suit in coming days and weeks, panto season soon will be in full swing everywhere.

So, is November too early to get in the festive mood? Well, clearly not from every sign I saw as we took our seats at the Gala on Saturday, surrounded by a mass of sparkling princess dresses (the children) and Christmas jumpers (all ages).

• Read more: Bumper 2023 guide to North East pantomimes
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And soon we were off - plunged into the world of No Place Hall where writer Gary Kitching, whose stamp is all over the show, introduces us to the likes of the cheery Buttons - played by Jude Nelson, who was Sammy the dog in last year’s Sleeping Beauty - and Pipsqueak (Daniel Butcher), the mouse who keeps cracking very cheesy cheese jokes and is another good pal of Cinderella's - or Bella as she's called here, played by Charlotte Bradley. The Friends theme tune is fitted in nicely too.

The kids are on-side from the start and by the end the show had lots of the audience on its feet to the Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Along the way came all sorts of madcap moments, from scenes of white mice on scooters to the Fairy Godmother who I particularly loved, seated on a moon and descending to the stage far less elegantly than she'd hoped.

Jessica Brady, who plays her, has a great voice, as has Charlotte - a local actress making her Gala debut here - and Lewis Kennedy as Prince Ambrose who together make a duet another stand-out moment in a show that shakes up the familiar tale of Cinderella with all the right panto ingredients and some added extras. The cast, including the dance ensemble, are all on top form.

Another fine singer Kris Manuel who along with Rosie Stancliffe and Sarah Boulter play the love-to-hate characters of the evil stepmother and the stepsisters - one obsessed with social media and the other who speaks nonsense as she likes to make up words - are a huge laugh especially when they pull off some mad dance moves.

The set has the sort of bright colourful, chunky panto scenery I love and there is glitz and glamour too in sparkling costumes and the ball scene, where I would have liked to see more made of effects of the plan to add itching powder to the ballgowns. The Gala panto always has a live band which adds extra polish to the annual show and this year's will be delivering full-on fun up to January 6. For tickets see here.