It's not often you encounter a fire-breathing dragon in the fairy story Sleeping Beauty.But that's exactly what is stealing the show at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells.

And what a show it is.

This is just about the perfect panto with a top-notch cast, spectacular special effects and a funny but intelligent script written by Andrew Ryan.

And keeping it all going at breakneck speed is the theatre's own director John-Jackson Almond.

Never has a panto been packed with so many set pieces.

You know it's going to be winner as soon as Snowflake the good fairy (Laura Mullowney) literally flies into view as the curtain opens on a stage covered in dry-ice fog.

And then the deliciously evil bad fairy Carabosse (Claire Sweeney clad in green with giant horns and setting the bar for baddies very high) joins her in the sky.

There is thunder and lightning, flossing juvenile dancers and one of the most complicated scenes imaginable as Prince Philip (Michael Vinsen) sings Queen's Somebody To Love while the entire cast makes an appearance using a backlit backdrop.

The lighting and sound are first rate, the band is on top form and the costumes are to die for. But this doesn't guarantee a hit. It takes a talented cast - and this one has it in droves.

Caitlin McNerney is a believable Princess Rose, who turns into sleeping beauty after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel as midnight chimes on the day of her 18th birthday, David Alcock is superb as the King and the dancers can show Strictly a thing or two.

But the stars are Quinn Patrick as dame Nursie and Derek Moran (from Channel 5's Milkshake children's TV show) as Silly Billy.

The pair romp through a cooking sketch with plumes of flour, an echo gag, a perfectly executed mirror routine, a lengthy menu, a Tardis which leads into a Doctor Who, What, Why session and a mop sequence.

The panto also introduces real drama, so much so that my three-year-old grandson had to grab his mum's arm for comfort while his older brother's eyes popped out on stalks.

This is what memories are made of.

* Sleeping Beauty runs to Wednesday, January 2. Tickets are £24 (£15.50 children) from 01892 530613 or visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.