The Telford Panto has pitched its tent at the International Centre this year (whilst the Oakengates venue is improved) and Ian Smith and his team have taken full advantage of the move to further develop their Christmas show concept of a unique blend of pantomime and circus. Let's call it Panto-cus! And for once, I feel the need to describe a panto plot.

With more than a nod to The Greatest Showman, Dame Betty Barnum and her daughter Goldilocks run The Circus of Wonders - but are in need of a star turn. Luckily, three bears live nearby and Baby Bear is feeling bored. The excitement of her family being stars in a circus show is just the ticket. But across town, The Evil Ringmaster of the rival Circus of Nightmares jealously covets their success and kidnaps the bears for his own show. Need I go on?

The International Centre's Ludlow Suite is set up as half a circus ring, with seating all around it and a cartoonish, primary colours Big Top backdrop. There are stadium-style flame cannons and silver rain fireworks, so it really does feel like going to a big circus. And the close proximity of the audience gives the performers ample opportunity to interact mercilessly with us. So, don't sit in the front row - and beware of the popcorn!

Even though its a new story, all the familiar pantomime characters are here.

Ian Smith is a rumbustious Dame, stalking the stage in his ridiculous outfits, dishing out jokes about Broseley like a Howitser, and keeping everyone on their toes - especially Carl Dutfield, the circus clown. This man is an exceptional and endlessly energetic performer (and I suspect Ian and James Shone wrote the part especially for him). He bounces around the stage like a rubber ball and every custard pie seems to come his way. He is an icon for the kids and his story about his first girl friend - peppered with snatches of pop songs - is one of many very clever comedy routines. He and Ian Smith have worked together in panto for a number or years - and it shows.

Olivia Thackray - despite her pretty pastel shades frock - is a very Girl Power Goldilocks, showing the young audience that girls are quite capable of Saving The Day and emphasising the need to be kind to animals. Talking of which, the Three Bears are very loveable indeed. Rachael Doyle is making her professional debut as Baby Bear and gives her character the perfect blend of nuisance and niceness, embraced by a very gentlemanly Daddy Bear (Ben Andrew) and an ever-smiling Sophie Jane Walters as Mummy Bear. Sophie Jane has also choreographed the whole show and both adult and kiddie chorus lines are excellently drilled. The bears also dance very entertainingly, which must be difficult wearing full furry costumes with such a low centre of gravity.

Having 800 episodes of EastEnders under his belt, Ricky Groves knows enough about being evil to give the wicked ringmaster enough of a steely stare to earn him an earful of boos. He is also a dancer of pedigree, having survived 11 weeks on Strictly.

The Big Top setting is a home from home for no fewer than four top flight circus acts.

Abebe Henok Endamalaw builds himself a tower of rolling tubes and balls so high that his head is up in the lighting rig. His is one of the most worrying balancing acts I have ever seen and the audience is close enough to see the beads of sweat when he wobbles. Simon Deville's tower is one of wooden chairs, which gets higher every time the audience shouts for 'one more chair'. Daniel Hasler arrives on a glittering panto quad bike for his juggling act and the glamorous Kayley Netting displays the power and poise of her aerial acrobatic from a silver moon suspended high above the stage. All four are most impressive show stoppers. And not a safety net in sight.

There are plenty of kiddy-pleasing comedy routines, including a baby elephant who can pee nuts. Gerald the Gruesome Gorilla tries to out-scare the Dame, and the chorus girls don their own furry costumes to form a Sylvanian Families tableaux around the animal loving Goldilocks.

I've given both the Telford and Shrewsbury Pantos 5 stars this year (top marks) but they are as different as chalk and cheese. Telford is loud and proud and in your face. Shrewsbury is nuanced and considered. It's a matter of taste. But both are excellent examples of their style - and it is possible, of course, to see both

Five stars

Reviewed by Chris Eldon Lee at The International Centre, Telford, on Thursday 19 December. Goldilocks And The Three Bears continues to show at the venue until Thursday 2 January.