ALADDIN’S poverty-struck world is turned upside down when he stumbles on an enchanted lamp in Puriton Players’ pantomime.

The infectiously enthusiastic actors, most of whom are from Puriton, are retelling the age-old story at the village hall every night until Saturday.

Among the starring roles is John Dabenett as Aladdin, Lucy Bennett as Princess Balroubadour, producer-writer Alan Scott as Widow Twankey and Matt Dearsley as the Genie of the Lamp.

Aladdin is Alan Scott’s 31st show with the Players – and his fourth time as Widow Twankey, he told the Weekly News.

“The bit that I love in the show is with John [Rowland], my mate, who is the Emperor,” he said.

“I’m Widow Twankey and I ravish his body at some point. I end up singing Lulu’s ‘Boom Bang A Bang’, song to him. In rehearsals I couldn’t keep a straight face. That – and The Sausage Routine.”

He added: “I can have real fun with it. It’s like the Morecambe and Wise sketch – I know all my lines but not necessarily in the right order.”

The sets are a sight to behold – fashioned by 58-year-old twins Bill and Rick, who help craft Griffen Carnival Club’s aesthetic every year.

Some 26 eight-to-15 year-olds in the junior and senior choruses support the main, named cast members.

The show starts at 7.15pm nightly with a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Tickets priced £7 (£6 concessions) and £5 children are available from Pat Randle on 01278-683542.