Seventy years since it was built and about 70 days after it reopened, the newly refurbished De La Warr Pavilion is staging its first pantomime.

Earl and Lady De La Warr joined a host of VIPs on Monday to celebrate the completion of work to save this great modernist building from falling into history.

Now the challenge is turning the venue into a viable space for the arts.

As such, the De La Warr needs to do something a bit different to bring in an audience.

For the panto, that means out go the soap opera stars, DJs and Pop Idol rejects and in comes a live band, some nifty staging and an accompanying art display in the galleries.

Writer Christine Harmar-Brown has updated the script to play to modern audiences. This Cinderella (Charlotte Gooch) has attitude: She wants an education not a husband.

This is the kind of monkeying around with classic stories which has made Disney a swearword in some countries. On the other hand, theatre has to be alive to the needs of its audience. To my mind, it's laudable and ambitious but a bit short on subtlety.

Far from subtle are the Ugly Sisters, who happily steal the show. Paul Taylor and Mark Flitton are rude, spiteful and, above all, silly.

The highlight of the panto is their striptease, although Dandini (Claire Bryan) gives them a run for their money with her take on Lonely. Buttons (David Stothard) stands out from a strong cast.

Cinderella takes a while to build momentum but it's well worth the wait.

Showing until January 8, 2006. Call 01424 229111 for tickets.