Hethersett's annual village pantomime has been delighting audiences for the past 42 years with its mix of fun and pure escapism.

Snow White is the latest in a long line of eye catching pantos that brings some winter cheer into the hearts of a packed Village Hall. Over the years the cast has changed and most of those taking part in panto 2011 weren't even born when Sleeping Beauty kicked things off in 1970.

Over the four subsequent decades, however, the show has maintained its high standard and this year's offering was as colourful and enjoyable as ever.

The winning formula of the Hethersett panto has always been a mixture of song and dance, a generous splash of colour and the ability to make the audience part of the fun by drawing them into the plot. Local jokes are thrown into the traditional panto fare to great effect. Once again the panto was written and produced by Lloyd Parfitt, who somehow also found time to play the cheeky Muddles. Barry Foster as always sparkled in a number of outrageous costumes as Nurse Nelly and this year had support from his grandson Jack Hamling as Muddles' Apprentice – certainly a chip off the old block.

There were stirring performances from Neville Greenhalgh as King Sebastian, Kate Rowe as the Good Fairy, Steve Bussey and Jono Angelo as Push and Shove and Josh Hamer as Lord Chamberlain and charming performances from two of the younger and leading lights of the pantomime group – Lauren Cooke as Snow White and Lewis Cook as Prince Valentine. The showstopper was Rachel Woodier as the agonisingly wicked Queen Liga – a part she fitted like a glove. Laughs were also plentiful from the seven dwarfs.

The show was directed by Sarah Wright and the band was led by musical director Tony Press.

As well as providing an excellent evening's entertainment the pantomime has also raised more than �71,000 for local charities and organisations since 1970 and a special end of show bucket collection was made this year for the Wymondham based cancer support charity Star Throwers.

Are you part of a drama group staging a production? Call Donna-Louise Bishop on 01603 772438.