Lyric Hammersmith, London
There’s charm and warmth aplenty in this updated version of the classic Christmas show, despite a script that’s short on magic

A wonky romance sits at the heart of this overhauled Arabian Nights folktale. Aladdin is a local lad, working at his mum’s launderette in Shepherd’s Bush market. Jasmine is an Indian princess who wants to be “normal” but is hemmed in by bodyguards.

Cue teen passion that breaches the class divide and a rendition of Pulp’s Common People by Aladdin (Andre Antonio) and Jasmine (Aleyna Mohanraj), which sets the tone for this poppy panto, led by an onslaught of cover songs.