THIS year's Christmas show at the Nuffield promises to knock spots off all the others. The theatre will be keeping the whole family entertained with its version of the classic children's book The 101 Dalmatians.

Already an established favourite with generations of children, Dodie Smith's tale of Cruella de Vil's dastardly plot to turn some Dalmatian puppies into a fur coat has all the makings of a memorable theatrical experience.

Although there will not be any real dogs on stage, the show features all the ingredients that made the original book and its film versions such enormous hits.

Directed by Nuffield artistic director Patrick Sandford, who helmed a recent acclaimed version of Cyrano de Bergerac, the show stars Elizabeth Counsel as Cruella - the society witch plotting a grisly end for 15 Dalmatian puppies.

"I've played Lady Macbeth before, who was quite evil. At least Cruella doesn't want to kill any people," says Counsel, currently best known for playing Mrs Thompson opposite Prunella Scales in the Tesco ads.

"I haven't done a Christmas show for a very long time. A tremendously long time ago, when my father was the manager of Windsor Theatre Royal, I did pantomimes there.

"This show will be a nice contrast to a pantomime and will definitely get you in the mood for Christmas."

The 101 Dalmatians was the book that made English author Dodie Smith world-famous and was inspired by her own love of the spotty dogs.

The idea for the story came after a friend remarked that a Dalmatian would make a nice fur coat. AW

Thursday until January 11. Performance: 7pm. Tickets: from £10.50. Box office: 023 8067 1771.

Nuffield Theatre, Southampton