VISITING your relatives can be perilous at the best of times. Little Red Riding Hood's trip to see her grandmother makes usual family rows over Christmas dinner seem like a scene out of The Waltons - particularly when Granny threatens to eat her.

If you like your festive entertainment slightly more sinister than the average panto, this year's Christmas show at the theatre Royal Winchester could be the perfect choice.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf has got it all. Produced in association with Ian Liston and the Hiss and Boo Company - whose nostalgic music hall act proved a big hit at the theatre last week - the classic fairy tale has been adapted for the stage by Kate Edgar and Colin Wakefield, whose credits include pantomimes for Salisbury Playhouse.

The show sticks to the familiar story, but livens up proceedings with one or two new characters. It also boasts a magical set, beautiful costumes and a toe-tapping original score.

There is also the chance to meet a couple of real wolves before the evening performance on December 16 at 7pm.

Duma and Dakota, who recently starred in the BBC's Monarch of the Glen, appeared on stage at the theatre earlier in the year to launch the show. The wolves, who live at the Wolf Conservation Trust in Beenham near Reading, are now returning to help audiences learn a little more about the creatures - although the theatre is keen to stress that no wolves appear in the actual show.

Can Little Red Riding Hood outwit the wolf? Will Granny be eaten? Can the brave woodcutter save the day? Find out when Little Red Riding Hood comes to the Theatre Royal Winchester from Thursday until January 5.

Tickets cost from £8. For more information, call the box office on 01962 840440.