CHANGES to cast and production team never hurt the well-oiled entertainment machine that is Keighley Amateurs’ annual pantomime.

They simply freshen the all-singing, all-dancing, all-joking formula that has kept audiences delighted for the past 50 years.

I really enjoyed this week’s Cinderella, a fast-moving and fizzy show packed with memorable set pieces both comic and musical.

Tweaks to the production team saw co-director Peter Whitley, co-director and choreographer Judith Chapman and musical director John Sandland excel with their respective teams.

For me the most welcome change was a cut to the traditionally-long running time, ending what has in the past been the Keighley panto’s only downside.

The choice of songs was terrific, predominately tracks from musicals or yesteryear’s pop charts, and the adult and kiddies’ choruses made many of these songs a real treat.

In the title role Brogan Hollindrake as usual gave us a principal girl with charm and credibility, singing flawlessly, though I thought her accent a bit posh for a girl from the cellar.

I liked Stephanie Laycock’s Prince Charming, a confident and believable principal boy, and there was a strong cast of supporting principals.

And so to Philip Smith, who I’ve written, directed and performed pantos with for the past two decades.

Anyone who saw last Saturday’s teatime performance of Cinderella will know there’s no bias in my comments about him: He was born to play Buttons, being a peppy, hilarious, likeable chappie throughout the show, and during the traditional singalong providing a masterclass in how to enthral an audience.

I’m undecided about ugly sisters Paul Bamber and Paul Jennings, more rough and scraggy than the usual panto dame, though at least Paul Bamber gave ‘her’ performance some major oomph.

• Until Saturday, Victoria Hall. Visit keighleyamateurs.com or call 08456 252550 to check ticket availability.

• David Knights