Eye lights: Pantomime

The pantomime season is here to reduce grown-ups to jeering buffoons. Today and next Friday, Eyelights will list details of the pantomimes opening across the country. First up the greasy pole is Jack and the Beanstalk, to sow the moral seeds of warning against greed at Haddo House Hall, Aberdeen (01224 641122), King's Theatre, Edinburgh (0131 220 4349), City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds (0113 243 0808), Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe (01724 840833) and Princess Theatre, Torquay (01803 290 290).

Huzzah cabal, it's Aladdin at The Anvil, Basingstoke (01256 844244), Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (0121 643 5858), Buxton Opera House, Buxton (01298 72190), West Cliff Theatre, Clacton-On-Sea (01255 421479), Mercury Theatre, Colchester (01206 573948), Playhouse, Epsom (01372 742555), Paul Robeson Theatre, Hounslow (0181 577 6969), Hackney Empire, London (0181 985 2424), Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury (01684 295 074).

Dick Whittington will find his way to Theatre Royal, Brighton (01273 328488), Wimbledon Theatre, London (0181 540 0362), Alban Arena, St. Albans, (01785 254 653). Or a tale where the dreams do come true can be indulged in with the fantastical Cinderella at The Elgiva, Chesham (01494 774759), Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon (0181 688 9291), Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe (01494 512000), Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy (01592 260498), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (0115 948 2626), Music Hall, Shrewsbury (01743 244255). Or if any of these send you to sleep then wake up to Sleeping Beauty at Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (01473 253725), Corn Exchange, Newbury (01635 522733).