It was a cold Sunday night and as I was driving home through the twinkling streets of Dublin, I pressed the dial button (on the hands free, of course) and rang my mother.

“Mom, I’m just out of the panto in the Helix in Dublin, thanks so much for bringing us to the panto every year in Cork when we were kids. I just remembered tonight how much fun they are.”

Yes, it must be nearly 20 years, since I last sat through a chorus of “oh no you don’t”, but I enjoyed it as much this year as I did when I was young. Because as an adult, the panto takes on a whole new meaning.

In my innocence as a child, I never realised just how many hilarious risqué connotations there are. Mary Murray of Love/Hate acted as the Wicked Stepmother, and the jokes about the popular series kept the crowd of adults laughing.

However, the real joy of the panto is the excitement and fun it brings to the kids. It really is true, children don’t need expensive toys and fancy computers to keep them entertained. A bit of singing and dancing goes a very long way. They joined in with every, “It’s behind you”, and booed each time the Wicked Stepmother came on stage.

Similarly in my family, my five-year-old niece Majella is mesmerised by the popular Frozen song Let it Go, and my four-year-old nephew James was out of his seat dancing along to the Lego song.

Mary Murray, also known as Janet or “the tart with a heart” from Love/Hate played the part brilliantly. Although her singing might not be quite up to scratch with the likes of Cinderella, played by RTÉ children’s TV presenter Megan Cassidy, she had the posh accent off to a T, which dropped into an inner city accent when she got annoyed or angry, just adding to the layers of the character.

Megan really played the butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-my-mouth Cinderella well. She was just the type of actress that the audience and the children warmed to. However, it was the Ugly Sisters, played by Aidan Mannion and Eoin Cannon, who were the real stars of the show.

Their boisterous nature, outrageous costumes and crude jokes had everyone from the youngest child to the oldest granny laughing.

It is quite amazing how funny kids find fart jokes.

Of course, with over 350 panto performances under his belt, Aidan Mannion, who played Concepta, was sure to keep the show going. Interestingly enough, Aidan is part of the Tighe clan, hailed as Ireland’s own panto family with their company TheatreworX Productions. His wife Claire is producer, co-writer and choreographer of the show, and has been working on pantos since she was 16. Her mother Rita is the creative force behind all the many beautiful costumes.

On top of that, dad Brian looks after the business as a company director. They certainly create a family day out to remember.

So grab the kids (or borrow them as I like to do), and head to the pantomime this Christmas.

Performance times at the Helix include matinee, evening and school/group performances.

Prices start at €21 per child, €25 for adults, or a family pass costs €69. Visit www.helix.ie or phone 01-700-7000 for more information.