Aladdin and His Magical Lamp

First, this is not a panto, oh no it isn't, although there was the odd panto-esqye moment this is a family show with magic, acrobats, music (not too much, just enough) and proper plot ... thank goodness for that!

In true Creation style the inside of the beautifully flexible North Wall Theatre has been transformed into a part of some undiscovered area of China to which we are whisked away and the story is up and running from the start.

The versatiule, hard working, small cast manage to portray the entire local population with ease and carry us along to magical caves, palaces and street gutters with barely a flick of the curtains.

Plenty of comedy, especially in the second act where the pace picks up a little the whole resolves in a sarisfying way. There's plenty here for the kids and enough for the adults with not too much sugare-sweet love story.

Speaking to oxford-based friends many are unaware of the existance of this theatre in South Parade, it really is a gem of a place and a worthy arena for Creation's always magical interpretations ...