Last Christmas will be remembered by many for sad reasons one of which being the nationwide absence of the panto.

There was no festive-filled fun, shouts of 'oh no it's not’ and jokes that go straight over your kid's heads.

This was the first time I had been in a theatre since the Covid-19 pandemic struck and it was a funny, entertaining and enjoyable return.

READ MORE: Hundreds turn out to see High Wycombe's Christmas light switch-on

The Wycombe Swan’s Peter Pan delivered everything you’d hope and want from a Christmas panto - and more!

The team behind the production have thrown the kitchen sink at this to make sure every scene looked amazing visually and the actors on stage take you on a magical adventure as Wendy Darling and her brothers flew to Neverland from High Wycombe.

Looking at the programme before I was immediately drawn to the scene ‘The Rooftops of High Wycombe’ and that was just the beginning of the local gags that were dotted throughout.

The show had no filler or stretched-out scenes to cover a costume or scene change; you were either laughing with Jamie Brook’s Smee and Jake Canuso’s Mateo Starkey, singing along with ‘bad guy’ Jake Wood’s Captain Hook or watching Elliot Swann’s Peter Pan fly through the sky.

There's even an appearance from Hook’s worst nightmare, Tick-Tock the Crocodile, and I won’t spoil the scene for you but panto isn't supposed to be that impressive.

Headline star Jake Wood, best known for playing EastEnders (BBC) regular Max Brenning as well as reaching the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, played villain Captain Hook receiving a wrath of boos every time he entered the fray.

Jamie Brook, the self-obsessed panto lover has played the lead comic in seven different pantos at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford and he brought the laughs to Wycombe as Smee, Captain Hook's loyal (or not so) first mate.

He was often accompanied by fellow pirate Mateo Starkey played by Jake Canuso, a Swiss actor known for his role in Benidorm (ITV) in which he played the Solana barman Mateo Castellanos for over 10 years.

They were hilarious together telling jokes for both children and their parents proving funny for all the family.

Leading the Lost Boys and flying through the air as Peter Pan, the boy who would never grow up, was Elliot Swann.

Coming head to head with the ex-soap star the young actor held his own as the panto’s hero.

Former X-Factor contestant Niki Evans, who has since played on London’s West End and by royal appointment at the Queen’s 90th birthday, played Mimi the Magical Mermaid bringing her impressive vocals to the show.

Also adding their voices to the mix was Gisselle Byron’s Tiger Lily and Isobel Hathaway who played Peter Pan’s trusted fairy Tinker Bell.

Olivia Stansbury made her professional debut as Wendy Darling alongside her brothers John and Michael Darling, played by Logan McQuillan and Archie Durant.

The ensemble of Georgia Apted, Marcel Li-Ping, Melissa Sharp, Mason Bradley, Antonia Roumelioti and Jack Walker made the big scenes look great with their dancing and high energy.

So if you need cheering up as the now-annual uncertainty around Christmas continues, get down to the Wycombe Swan and as cheesy as it sounds, you will not regret it.

Peter Pan is on at the Wycombe Swan Theatre until January 2. Book tickets here.