Review: Sex & Docks & Rock 'N' Roll****

I DON'T like panto and I'm not overly keen on anarchists. An anarchist panto is not exactly up my street.

By the end of Red Ladder's Christmas show not only was I a convert, but I left singing at least one of a plethora of irresistibly catchy tunes penned by the talented writer and composer Boff Whalley. While there is a political point to the musical comedy, the genius of the piece is that you barely notice it, even when Ronnie McDermott is leading a sing-a-long of "Ignore the party leaders/with all their dirty fingers in the pie". The musical is based around a Liverpudlian family caught up in the docker's strikes of the Sixties.

Anarchists will find much to enjoy and agree with and fans of brilliantly written and composed musicals will have a ball. The acting is superb, particularly from Harry Hamer as "Our Barry", his Little Guitar song still buzzing in my ear as I write this.

Rod Dixon directs with a deft hand – there really is nothing to fault.

Touring to December 22.