KING'S Theatre audiences in Edinburgh, are delighted to see the return of Allan Stewart’s Big, Big, Variety Show this week, writes our Theatre critic Kerry Black.

For several years now, King’s panto favourite Allan has assembled an all star cast to present several nights of music and mayhem in this iconic building.

After opening with a solo number backed by the amazing King’s Theatre orchestra under the expert baton of Andy Pickering, Allan soon realised he had a heckler in a box, none other than sequin jacketed fellow panto star Grant Stott!

Grant soon joined him on stage to perform a comical duet thanks to the wonders of autotuning! They were followed by Edinburgh newcomer Phil Butler, a comedy magician and English panto star, who brought a touch of Hi De Hi frolics to a prediction routine, swiftly followed by an act based on flags of the world!

We were then treated to a preview of this year’s King’s panto extravaganza with Grant as a massive beastly horned cratur and Allan as a lithe 18 year old, as they gave us a hilarious taster for Beauty and the Beast (tickets are already on sale!)

The Act One finale was the legendary Three Degrees. The original queens of disco wowed in their glittering Jessica Rabbit dresses as they transported us back in time with a medley of their hits. They are in fact the longest running female trio in history, although the line up may have changed slightly over the years. The whole audience were soon singing along to “When Will I See You Again”.

The Second Act opened with the return of the infamous folk trio The MacRobert Brothers, who magically appear like Brigadoon from the Scottish mists each variety show. Unfortunately their third member (Andy Gray) is currently residing in River City, so they were forced to find a volunteer from the audience! Three cheers for anyone bold enough to don a tammy and shake a tambourine in this most unique supergroup!

This was swiftly followed by Scottish comedy superstar Fred MacAuley, who had a great rant about idiotic call centre practices, scrunchies, cruising and the price of fame!

Audience participation is always a feature of this show and last night was no exception. Who would have imagined that Fred would have roused the audience to singalonga Daydream Believer!

Then Stotty himself, delivered a dazzling diatribe regarding the glories of being nominated as Best FEMALE Villain in a Panto - although it may have to be renamed as Best Female Villain in Big Lycra Pants and Heels

Then Allan reappeared for a glorious gamut of impressions where he rattled through everyone from Family Guy to Dame Edna via Frank Spencer. However, before he rounded off the evening with a tribute to Jolson, he introduced his daughter, the stunning Kate Stewart to the crowd. What an amazing singer! Next year, she should surely be one of the top billed acts in the event!

Beat the snow days, warm your hearts, laugh your socks off and sing your hearts out, head to Edinburgh King’s Theatre this week to see Allan Stewart’s Big, Big Variety Show, on till Saturday March 3, call 0131 529 600 to book.