There are many things associated with the perfect Christmas, and a good pantomime is certainly one of them.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

This year, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs graces the stage at Richmond Theatre, with actress and theatre patron Jerry Hall staring at the Wicked Queen.

As the audience is taken into the enchanted fairytale forest, other characters including Snow White, head dwarf Prof and six other dwarfs are ready to bring the well loved Grimms’ Fairy Tales to life.

CBeebies presenter Chris Jarvis is no stranger to pantomime and this year takes on the role of loveable fool Muddles.

He says: “I’m there to open the play, annoy the queen and lighten the mood because it is a dark story, but I think that is what makes pantomime work.

“I have been doing pantomime all my life and this is very different which is great. It is an interesting way to do panto and the audience seem to love it - it is more sitcom humour but it still works for young kids.”

Jarvis has starred in a number of shows through the years, including Aladdin at Richmond Theatre in 1997, but despite the 18-year gap between his two pantomime performances in Richmond, he is glad to be back at the iconic venue.

He adds: “It is a beautiful theatre to work in. I have been out in the auditorium a few times and I'd forgotten how beautiful it is.”

Part of the appeal of pantomime for Jarvis is working with a team of cast members and crew, which he says is particularly outstanding at Richmond Theatre.

He says: “The crew work like clockwork and the cast are wonderful.

“Jerry is fantastic. She is a very, very intelligent person and a kind and very generous performer. She is a brilliant wicked queen - she is absolutely stunning. When she becomes the old hag at the end, it is a real shock.”

Though the story of Snow White is well known, Jarvis says the audience is in for a treat with not a dull moment in the show.

He adds: “I love all of it. Normally in a pantomime, there are one of two scene which you think ‘golly’, but this is isn’t like that. It is so different to what you normally get in panto.

“What is wonderful about the script is the dwarfs actually do some work rather than just singing ‘Heigh-Ho’. They do little party pieces but I won't spoil it for you.”

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The question that remains is will the Wicked Queen have the chance to banish Snow White once and for all? Or will the fairest of the land triumph over evil?

To find out the answer, head to Richmond Theatre this pantomime season.

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Richmond Theatre, Little Green, Richmond; until January 11, times vary by day; £11.90 to £40.40; call 0844 8717651 or visit atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre.