PANTOMIME season is upon once again. It’s not? Oh yes it is!

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a good old-fashioned panto – with the classic tales returning to the stage, with plenty of twists, audience particiaption, celebrity guests and cross-dressing for good measure.

Get into the spirit of the season with our list of the top five pantos, coming to a theatre near you this festive season.

* Beauty and the Beast – Princes Hall, Aldershot, December 7-31.

Aldershot favourites Robert Hopkins and “the best Dame in the business” Donovan Christian-Cary are back for another knockout pantomime this Christmas and lead a reunited and strong artistic team.

Beauty and the Beast will mark Robert’s 25th consecutive pantomime at the venue as producer and director, as well as Donovan’s 15th consecutive show.

Edward Haversham, marketing and box office manager at The Princes Hall, said: “We are all very excited that this year’s magical production will be Beauty and the Beast, it’s going to be our most spectacular panto ever.”

Tickets start at £20 for children and seniors, and £21 for adults. Discounts are available for groups. Call the box office on 01252 329155 or visit princeshall.com to book or reserve your seats.

* Cinderella – New Victoria Theatre, Woking, December 7 to January 6.

Following last year’s record-breaking pantomime run which saw more than 50,000 festive theatregoers pass through its doors, Woking’s New Victoria Theatre have announced that the legendary Paul Chuckle will be joining the cast and starring alongside Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood in this year’s must-see Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes, Cinderella.

Paul Chuckle will play Cinderella’s father, Baron Hardup, making his New Victoria Theatre debut. Best known as one half of the legendary Chuckle Brothers, Cinderella marks Paul’s first pantomime following the sad passing of his brother and co-star Barry earlier this year.

Paul said: “I’d like to thank everybody for their amazingly kind outpouring of love and support following the loss of our dear friend and my amazing brother, Barry. Panto was a huge part of our lives for over 50 years and I know Barry would want and expect the show to go on so I’m very happy to be starring in Cinderella in Woking this Christmas alongside our good friend Craig Revel Horwood.”

Book a ticket to the ball, priced from £14, by calling the box office on 0844 871 7645 or online at atgtickets/woking.

* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – The Anvil, Basingstoke, December 13 to January 6.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to Basingstoke you go for this year’s traditional family pantomime at The Anvil: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Taking the title role of Snow White is Dani Harmer, best known as CBBC’s Tracy Beaker, and playing Muddles is Chris Pizzey, who was such a hit in Jack and the Beanstalk at The Anvil in 2015. And once again Chris will also be directing the panto, and is planning lots of fun, magic, mayhem, and laughs.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will have lavish sets and sumptuous costumes, a mix of up-to-the-minute pop songs along with old favourites, great gags and plenty of audience participation – perfect for keeping the whole family entertained during their Christmas treat. There is also a relaxed performance for those on the autistic spectrum and with other disabilities on Wednesday, January 2, at 2pm, as well as a BSL signer at the 6pm performance on Tuesday, December 18.

For tickets, call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244, or visit the Anvil Arts website anvilarts.org.uk.

* Cinderella – Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford, December 7 to January 6.

Recording artist, actress and songwriter Michelle Gayle brings Sweetness to Surrey this Christmas, ready to make your wishes come true as the Fairy Godmother in the magical family pantomime Cinderella at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Michelle will be joined on stage by cabaret performer Kit Hesketh-Harvey who returns in regal splendour to play the majestic but meddlesome Dandini, while Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon has dragged his partner in panto crime Nick Barclay to play the Ugly Sisters.

A magical set, sparkling costumes, a stunning live band and some utterly adorable real ponies combine to make this one pantomime you certainly don’t want to miss.

Book your ticket (priced from £18) by calling the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre box office on 01483 440000 or online at yvonne-arnaud.co.uk.

* Peter Pan – New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, December 13-31.

This year the New Theatre Royal is staging its biggest Christmas season yet with its lavish and innovative new Christmas show, Peter Pan.

The show stars New Theatre Royal favourite, Timothy Lucas, who wowed audiences as Frederick in last year’s hit production of Beauty and the Beast. Timothy will play Captain Hook and joins the production straight from the UK tour of Cilla the Musical.

Speaking of his return to Portsmouth, Timothy said: “I can’t wait to bring this iconic story to the stage of the beautiful New Theatre Royal. The script, the designs, the cast all look set to be stunning.”

The production, presented by arrangement with the Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity, is led by one of the UK’s leading Christmas show writers Scott Ramsay, who is also director of the New Theatre Royal.

Tickets range from £10-£29. Call 023 9264 9000 or visit newtheatreroyal.com.