WHAT’S the best way to ensure the patients at the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries Unit (MCSI) get into the festive spirit at the Orthopaedic Hospital? Well, to put on a pantomime of course!

The spinal staff at the unit donned their acting hats and performed Jack and the Beanstalk for a packed-out room at the hospital.

And what a performance it was – despite only having two full rehearsals before the big day, the staff put on a fantastic show for patients and their families.

The story started with Mary Fairy, played by Mary Watkins, telling the audience that Giant Badbreath wanted to take the land meant for Horatio’s Garden and turn it into a great big multi-storey car park.

The evil Ecoli Pox, performed by nurse Helen Silver, was doing all that he could to ensure the horrible plan went ahead.

It was all down to ward sister Emma Canlett, aka Jack Snot, to defeat the giant and win the hand of Princess Eugene, King Convene’s daughter.

The panto was off to a great start, featuring a hilarious performance by Barbie Simmonds as Babs Carbuncle who was on hand to issue flu jabs with her giant needle.

There was also a dance number to Michel Jackson’s Thriller which saw a dancing reindeer take centre stage.

The panto then introduced us to Agnes Snot and her sons Jack and Simple, who decided that Jack was the man to sell their very shaky cow Clementine in order to climb up the beanstalk.

King Convene, played by occupational therapist Louisa Lindsay-Jones, was willing to let Jack marry his daughter if he killed the giant.

Jack managed to defeat the giant and marry Princess Eugene.

Directors of the panto Mary and Barbie said: “We’ve just thoroughly enjoyed doing the performance and it’s great to do something for all our patients and to get a little festive.”

It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance and all the staff deserve a big round of applause for their efforts.