Fred Double as Aladdin and Clive Rowe as Widow Twankey, at the Hackney Empire - Alastair Muir Amid a period of spirit-sapping political and economic turbulence, the British panto provides welcome ...

The panto is set mainly in China and with a sidestep to Egypt. The story follows the mischievous Wishee Washee and his gang as they team up with the lovable Widow Twankey in her outrageous laundry.

Personally other than a vague recollection of Widow Twankey washing her droopy drawers whilst being chased by a man in a gorilla costume around a bingo hall in Sheffield, the ‘real’ panto ...

Will Widow Twankey finally wear something that doesn ... The talented Dylan Reid, no stranger to panto audiences, is wonderful as the brave and lovely Aladdin and Aodhan Kehoe, as his endearing ...

Written and directed by CBeebies favourite Chris Jarvis, who also stars as a wonderfully funny Widow Twankey ... time right through this excellent pantomime. Highly recommended.

Rowe, back for his 16th panto here, has a cherishable and imperishable ... The Lancashire-born actor – who also directs – has played Widow Twankey a fair few times, even going head-to-head ...