There was a great soundtrack, an enthusiastic cast and plenty of humour, which worked on all levels, during CAODS’ recent production of Sleeping Beauty at Trinity Theatre.

I cried with laughter during the dreaming song inside the sleeping castle in act two, because the clever combination of actions and words made it hysterically funny to adults, yet children watching the show were none the wiser.

I also particularly enjoyed seeing Natalie De Gruchy, as the evil witch Carabosse and Oliver Fry, as comical Jester Jez, whose big hits included Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You.

Lizzie Giakoumelos made a lovely Princess Aurora – aka Sleeping Beauty – and Ruby Beaman was great as her baker beau, Bradley.

Nick Simmonds was a scream as panto dame Nanny Nonsense and excelled at wandering out into the audience and getting everyone involved.

The three fairies helped the story along with style – I particularly liked Shirley Denne as Fairy Cake, but Jess Felis and Anita Davies also gave strong performances as Fairy Liquid and Fairy Nuff.

Jester Jez had two great sidekicks – Aimee-Rose Howard as the very French-sounding Chef Fresh, and Gardener Green, who was played by both Martin Deane and John Kirk during the run. John gave a solid performance in the show I saw.

Duncan Greaves and Amanda Robertson played King Bernard and Queen Frieda of France, while Lexi Skeldon-Downer and Maddie Cox were good as Carabosse’s sidekicks, Fetch and Carry.

Some of the youngest cast members included Nicholas Newson, who gave a sterling performance as The Stork, who brings baby Aurora.

Millie Smith, Pollie Newson, and Sophie King were also good as the young Princess Aurora in different stages of growing up.

There was a large chorus of villagers, fairies and palace staff and it’s a credit to CAODS that they have a lot of children taking part in shows, which bodes well for the relaunch of Trinity Youth Theatre in January, after a break of several years.

Sleeping Beauty was created by the talented duo of Luke Mulhern as producer and musical director, and Tracy Howard as director, with choreography by Ellen Lamplough.