HISTORY loves to repeat itself and that's a great thing for South Essex theatre goers who love something a little risqué.

It's now become a January tradition for Thurrock Thameside Theatre star Luke Coldham to decamp with his theatrical company and friends to stage an adult panto at the Mirren Studio in Basildon's Towngate Theatre.

It's become an iconic, much-loved event – so much so that tickets sell out almost as fast as they are put on sale and for this year's production 'Jack Off The Beanstalk' extra shows have been added because of the demand.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview before tonight's (Tuesday, 16 January) official opening as part of an audience at the final full-dress rehearsal and I'm delighted to report that those specially privileged guests and I were thoroughly entertained.

It's a rip-roaring, fast-paced scat on all things panto – and indeed musical theatre in general. Of course, it goes without saying that it's not a show to attend for those who might be offended by vulgarity and near to the knuckle jokes about sex, politics, local towns – in fact just about anything Luke can turn his quick-witted pen to.

It's all done in the worst possible taste!

But that doesn't mean to say quality is discarded. This really is panto on the top of its game with a cast of real quality, great scenery and effects and some belting, showstopping musical parodies.

And it's impossible to pick out a star of the show. One thing about the tremendously-talented Luke is his ability to share the limelight and in 'Jack Off' there's talent in abundance.

The show starts with the spotlight on the panto's face-wrenchingly, body-jerkingly hilarious Josh Handley, camping it up as he does best – quite the most memorable fairy I've seen in a panto.

The hero of the piece, Josh Harrison-Yellop as Jack Thot and the frustratingly unattainable love of his life Jill (Ali James) introduce themselves and the whole thing is stitched together by the ever-popular John Oakes as Simple Simon. Luke's Dame Dolly Thot is a repeat of his colourful menagerie of Dames – but this time with a licence to offend as well as titillate and he spares very few the rod (or should that be strap on?).  

Poison Fleshcreep is the delightfully dark Louise Kempson and Thomas Andrew Smith then pops up as a most remarkable old cow!

It would be churlish not to mention the four dancers Danny Forster, Dyland Snowden, Emily Jeeves and Mia Higgins in the round-up, not to mention the offstage back-up crew who are unseen but keep things rolling along at a cracking pace.

The plot is as old as fairy-telling itself and if course it all ends happily, leaving the audience looking forward already to next year's vilification.

One of the things that makes this show work so well is the familiarity between the cast. Many of them have worked together either at the Towngate or Thameside and that acquaintanceship, experience, and closeness shines through. These guys and gals must love to go to work together!

But you also must have talent as well as friendship and this motley crew have it in abundance. There are several tremendous musical numbers, many cleverly rescripted from theatre classics. I'm a big musical theatre fan and can be a bit precious about the shows and songs I love but even I can forgive Luke for the shockingly indecent rendition of 'On My Own' from Les Mis by Ali James.

Everyone in the cast can hold their own when it comes to belting out a number but for me the highlight, based simply on the quality of voice rather than the lyrics and acting, is Louise Kempson's 'Whatever Happened to My Part' – stolen from Spamalot and embellished in every sense.

If I'm a tad picky, I felt a couple of the jokes were very close to the mark of genuinely being offensive even to the most open-minded and I suspect they may be eased out as the production finds its way through the run – but then I was warned! And the repetitive nature of some of the LBGTQ jokes (though the Q one was a blinder!!!) irritated both myself and more importantly my trans guest for the production – though not to the extent it spoiled the show, trans folk generally do have the ability to laugh at themselves first! However, camp, caustic, and quick-witted comedy is one thing, but it can slip into kitsch if overdone and very occasionally it does.

But overall, this is another triumph for Luke and Co. And it's deservedly all but sold out. There are just a few tickets still available for an added-on show on Thursday, 25 January at 5pm if you want to chance your arm before I have no doubt they too will be snapped up.  Book online at http://www.towngatetheatre.co.uk or call 01268 205300.