THIS year's panto at Richmond Methodist Church was certainly a success – successful in the amount of enjoyment it gave, in the number of people involved – 31 performers plus a dozen or so people back stage – and in that it raised more than £1,400 for the church and local charities.

Aladdin Yorkshire was written by Martin Ash who was, with help, responsible for the production. The Yorkshire twist was that Aladdin had to find not a lamp, but a tin of Bisto pudding mix for the perfect Yorkshire pudding which was hidden in Mother Shipton's Cave.

Everyone had to adopt a Yorkshire accent, apart from the Sultan and a family who were allowed to remain Geordies – with a splendid effort by Jenny Ash playing the wife. This they did with varying degrees of authenticity, the gold star going to Gez Cornish, playing Widow Twanky, whose southern tones shone through his magnificent attempt at a local tongue, the most hilarious part of the production.

Jonny Staley as the wicked Abanazar gave his usual tour de force and all the children performed splendidly.The young dancers deserve special praise for their grace and fluency. Their skeleton dance in Mother Shipton's Cave was particularly memorable.

The "flight" of the proddy rug carrying Aladdin and Jasmine past the Angel of the North, York Minster, Brimham Rocks, The White Horse and the Pie Shop on its way to a crash landing in Filey was a masterpiece of modern technology – much praise to Matthew Cooper.

From four to 84, all taking part did a splendid job and gave much delight to three packed houses.

Daphne Clarke