With a star-studded cast including the world's best known dance troupe, a gigantic inflatable beanstalk so far-reaching it nearly raised the roof of the auditorium and the largest, most realistic looking giants I've ever seen, this is next level panto.

As we've come to expect, Mayflower Theatre's Christmas offering is the biggest, boldest and best around and this year is no different with Ashley Banjo and Diversity returning for a second pantomime outing in Jack and the Beanstalk. 

It really is a giant of a show, all held together beautifully by the comic genius of Kev Orkian, also making a return appearance as Buttons, alongside our Dame Trot Matt Rixon, a regular and always spectacular dame on the Southampton stage. 

(Image: Stuart Martin / Mayflower Theatre) READ MORE: 'It's a ten from me': what we thought of Fareham Live's first ever pantomime

The show opens with a variety performance planned and there's an old school variety show feel to the whole night with a succession of superb scenes, most notably the mass choreographed numbers.

I never thought I'd see Diversity dance to The Birdie Song with such aplomb, or roar with laughter at a clever tongue twister, or jump out of my skin as The Giant piped up, but hey that's panto for you.

Topical humorous references pepper the performance with the new Prime Minister and even Gregg Wallace the butt of some jokes. Portsmouth always gets a pasting in the Southampton panto, which I half expected to include a gag about our recently departed manager Russell Martin last night. 

(Image: Stuart Martin / Mayflower Theatre) The minimal plot gets a bit lost in all the fun. There are some beans and a pantomime cow involved, but it doesn't seem like the sale of the beloved cow, Pat, is the end of the world for the Trots, who spend much of their time mixing with royalty no less.

It's another magical belter of a pantomime with costumes, sets and staging so lavish it wouldn't look out of place in the West End. When the audience clap, cheer and holler this loudly for a solid two hours plus, it doesn't matter that the story could have been told in ten. 

Fe fi fo fum! I smell yet another giant festive hit.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs until Sunday January 5. Tickets from mayflower.org.uk

(Image: Stuart Martin / Mayflower Theatre)