A truly British gem, where else in the world would you see a show where men dress as women and women dress as men to a backdrop of risque gags and then pass it all off as children's entertainment?

But all the above boxes were ticked - and more besides - as the Civic kicked off its seasonal run, former Brookside star Louis Emerick this year's top billing in the traditional tale of Dick Whittington.

The Last of The Summer Wine star excelled as the villain of the piece in his role as King Rat but was matched by the comic interchanges provided by Sarah The Cook (Danny Jay) - who has obviously been studying Little Britain's Matt Lucas - and ventriloquist Naughty Nigel Harvey who delivered some topical, some corny and some innuendo laden gags to an appreciative audience of kids and adults alike with his puppet pals Ben and Sox.

The Civic shows have come in for some flak in recent years but this year's show has got all it takes to keep all ages entertained - songs, dance, glitzy costumes and enough humour and slapstick to keep things ticking over nicely for two hours or so. Oh, and plenty of thigh-slapping and shouts of "it's behind you!" and "oh yes it is."

The kids loved the silliness and daft gags from Harvey while adults could revel in the topical material (stuff about Woolworths, Amy Winehouse and Gordon Brown) and local asides about Stainforth and Barnsley FC.

There was even a gag about Girls Aloud which managed to draw shocked gasps from the audience - but I'll not spoil it for you if you are planning on going along.

There were a few sticky moments - fluffed lines and slip-ups - but the cast coped admirably and delivered an enjoyable and entertaining show which sent everyone home happy.

What the experts said......

Luc Burke-Lejeune, four of Wheatley Hills said:
"I liked Ben best. He was funny and made me laugh. The bit where he was blowing up balloons was really funny. But I didn't like the rat. He was an idiot and very naughty!"

Alexei Burke-Lejeune, two and a half, of Wheatley Hills said: "I liked the fish in the sea. And the Postman Pat song too."

VERDICT

Parking: 4/5
Quite a full Waterdale car park but still found a space and then a quick stroll over to the Civic.

Travel Time: 4/5
A ten minute trip so quick and easy and no frazzled nerves when we got there.

Food: 4/5
Took our own snacks but there were the usual favourites available in the foyer - ice crea, crisps, sweets and chocolate at reasonable prices.

Toilets: 3/5
Like any older building, they could do with a lick of paint but clean enough and only one actual toilet trip during the performance - not bad with two under fives in tow!

Staff: 4/5
Prompt and efficient delivering the tickets and for pointing the right way and selling the programmes so no complaints there.

Gift shop: 3/5
Not a gift shop as such but a stall in the foyer selling the usual panto staples - flashing wands, foam hands, novelties etc. Mine managed to resist the lure!

Time spent there: 4/5
A good two hours plus with the kids entrance from start to finish.

Cost: 4/5
Tickets range from £7.50 to £10.50 with a family ticket for four available at £36 - pretty good value in these credit crunch times. Programme was £2.50 with a mix of reading material for the adults and puzzles for the kids.

Overall mark: 5/5
My kids loved it from start to finish - and were so in awe the first thing they said when it finished was can we go again? Proof if any that you've got a good show on your hands. Sure we might be back before it ends its run on January 4!