AS TEN-YEAR-OLDS go, mine is a hard nut to crack when it comes to making her laugh.

Despite my best efforts, my jokes just aren't up to the task and it isn't just me – her dad and brothers won't win any comedy awards from her either.

However, from the moment the curtains raised on the Alhambra stage for this year's panto, Beauty and the Beast, the giggles didn't stop.

The following day, she kept remembering bits and chuckling when recalling snippets to whoever would listen.

It has, admittedly, been a while since we took in a pantomime. The pandemic led to the festive family routine falling by the wayside and, with the elder kids deciding they were too cool for a trip to the theatre, my daughter brought her pal along to enjoy the occasion at the Alhambra with my husband and I.

It had something for everything with jokes my daughter maybe didn't get to ones she certainly did!

The younger members of our group adored funnyman Ian Sheepie Smith who, playing the role of Daft Danny, immediately had her and her pal on their feet with his special dance and rhyme which they welcomed him with whenever he came on stage.

His slapstick comedy and general "daftness" was endearing to all of us.

All the characters were a hit, from the Fairy fae Fife to Beauty, her dad The Professor, the Beast and Prince, to the traditional baddies Marcel and his sidekick, Gormless.

With traditional panto shouts of "They're behind you" and plentiful opportunities to "boo" the baddies, there was also appearances from zombie dinosaurs and ghosts to keep the audience on their toes.

There were awkward moments too when I could feel my husband sliding down in his chair hoping and praying that he wouldn't come to the attention of Daft Danny as he engaged in his witty banter with the audience, from chats from the stage, to a walkaround with the help of a camera which provided footage of enthusiastic youngsters and nervous adults for all to see on a huge on-stage screen.

The panto's traditional happy ending – of the wedding of Beauty and the Prince– was preceded by my daughter's favourite moment, a unique rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas which, without any spoilers, brought with it much hilarity and chaos enjoyed by young and old.

No sooner than the curtain had gone down, both my daughter and her friend enthused about the "amazing" show.

When pressed, my daughter summed up: "It was funny, amazing and funny again."

Running until December 28, tickets for Beauty and the Beast are available from the Alhambra or through Ticketmaster.