This is Aladdin but not as you know it. Andrew Pollard’s family Christmas fantasy puts a modern twist on the traditional tale of the lad with the lamp.

One of its biggest assets is Paul Ryan, who’s been seen in a variety of guises on the SJT stage in the past year. One was as Mrs Bouncer in Cox & Box and in Aladdin he’s gender-swapping again. His Mrs Darzi is no vulgar, over-the-top cross-dressing madam but a woman with a sharp tongue and ideas above her station.

She’s a marvellous creation who in other circumstances might be the star of the play but here, in a Christmas fantasy with an excess of theatrical riches, has stiff competition from the likes of Elvis the elk and Norwegian impresario Sven Gali (Ian Crowe with wonderful mangled accent).

Sven covets the lamp to complete world domination, while Aladdin wants to impress a princess who’s about to marry unscrupulous property developer Mr Ghobad (another rich comic creation from Andy Cryer).

There’s magic aplenty with genies – the show has two – appearing in puffs of smoke, magic carpet rides and a gang of street kids (played by SJT’s young company) using junk as musical instruments. Jay Saighal, in his professional debut, as Aladdin and Arabella Rodrigo’s Princess Badroulbadour do well not to get overlooked as the “normal” couple among such a gallery of characters with a capital C.

SJT artistic director Chris Monks’ decision to return to pantomime this year has paid off handsomely with this inventive and magical reworking of a familiar story.

Runs until Jan 3. Box Office: 01723-370541 and sjt.uk.com

Steve Pratt