WE all need a lift (and a bit of laughter) in these gloomy times (not to mention what’s going on beyond our lovely region), so why not make a date with Shaftesbury Arts Centre and beat the January blues with a magical and bonkers pantomime, Alice in Wonderland, at the Bell Street theatre from 22nd to 31st January.

Step through the looking glass in Ben Crocker’s entertaining pantomime version of Lewis Carroll[‘s classic stories, for a riotous celebration of imagination, packed with larger-than-life characters, infectious energy and the classic panto magic.

The show is directed by Molly Walker, with Bryony Gale as Alice, Oliver Card as the White Rabbit, Martin Porter as the Right Royal Red Queen and Samantha Baile as the Wrong Red Queen.

Other parts are played by Bryan Farrel and Marie Stubbs as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Dominic Morgan as the Mad Hatter, Jake Binns as the Dormouse, Summer Eve Robertson as the Mad March hare, Daisy Berry as the Bandersnatch and John Parker as the Right Royal King.

With all the usual pantomime routines (he’s behind you!), the show gets a bit of an update with a more contemporary musical accompaniment.

So lose yourself in a world where nothing is quite as it seems and take a tumble down the rabbit hole …