Sleeping Beauty: Watermill, Newbury

“How did you do that incredible fart?” It’s not the sort of question you normally expect from a prince, but that’s what you get in the Watermill’s new Christmas production of Sleeping Beauty.

Scripted by Rufus Norris, this is definitely not a sugary, sparkly version of the classic tale. It’s firmly set in down-to-earth, medieval times, and you can never be sure what peril might lurk round the next corner. The atmosphere is reinforced by Simon Kenny’s sepia-tinted set designs, and Joshua Carr’s shadow-prone lighting – the visual effect is more Game of Thrones than traditional Christmas panto.

Principal issuer of the aforementioned farts is Goody, a robust fairy who – as she admits herself – is not in the first flush of youth. Played with great gusto and verve by Molly Logan, Goody has the noxious habit of emitting a fart every time she casts a spell – and that includes the traditional moment when she pricks the princess’s finger, sending her into a long sleep. Goody must then find a handsome prince to kiss and awaken the princess. Alas, all does not run smoothly thereafter, for the prince (Peter Bray) is a boring drip.

However, Peter Bray is not confined to playing this dull role for he doubles as a leaping, gyrating, fun minstrel, who greatly annoys his master, the King (Matthew Romain). The King is another drip, who visibly shakes when his daughter wakes up and demands a new dress for her 16th birthday: “Not one made of old curtains!” Rachel Winters, in a sparky performance, makes it very clear that the princess has plenty of fight left in her, in spite of being locked up for years. Matthew Romain also gets a peach of a second role as the fearsome Ogre, who has bloodthirsty dietary desires – human flesh, we learn, is his dish of choice.

I wondered if this show might be a bit dark, but the audience (coachloads of primary school children) lapped up the storyline at the performance I saw, and didn’t seem at all unnerved. The seven-strong cast of actor-musicians (directed by Bill Buckhurst) are first-rate throughout.

Giles Woodforde 4/5

Continues until 1 January.