If you’re suffering with the January blues then watching Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatics Society’s panto is bound to get you smiling again.

The production stays true to the classic story but is laced with contemporary music and jokes about Pewsey and surrounding areas that gives the audience a feeling of connection to the show.

Jack was played by Emma Brown who took to her part with gusto and nobody would believe that she was recovering from an emergency appendix operation.

Director Steve Clements, who took on the role of the pantomime dame Dotty Dimple, seemed very comfortable playing the part of a woman and provided a lot of laughs.

Hallam Britten, who played Jack’s brother Simple Simon, was the king of one-liners and encouraged audience participation even when the crowd were a little reluctant to join in.

There is plenty of opportunity for obligatory panto booing thanks to Emma Coady, who plays the witch, Piccalilli, Rancid the Ratman, played by Ben Bateman and of course the Giant, played by Alun Harris-Cormie.

All of the baddies were very convincing in their roles and even had me jumping out of my seat a couple of times.

You might expect the set in an amateur production to be unimpressive but I was rather surprised by the quality.

This year’s PVADS panto is well worth seeing but a word of warning: bring waterproof clothing with you in preparation for the water guns.

Jack and the Beanstalk is on Friday and Saturday 7.30pm, matinee Saturday 2.30pm. Tickets from www.pvads.net, (01672) 810436, via text on 07775 312144 or from the Bouverie Hall box office between 10am-noon weekdays.