THE Alhambra's spectacular panto, the biggest one in West Yorkshire, comes to a close on Sunday, January 24.

Jack and the Beanstalk, starring Billy Pearce, Lisa Riley, Jake Canuso and John Challis, opened in December to packed houses and glowing reviews.

While the fun happens on stage, what goes into creating the region's most spectacular panto? Backstage, an army of production crew and venue staff work tirelessly to bring the magical show to life.

The panto brings together the work of over 30 technical and production staff, 19 performers and 25 local children as the Sunbeams, not to mention the additional 160 venue staff.

A total of six wagons transported the set, effects, lighting and sound equipment to the Alhambra and it took 23 backstage crew three days to build the set and light the show before the cast started to rehearse on stage. The show requires around half a tonne of scenery back cloths, and 80 sheets of special flooring were laid on the Alhambra stage, held in place by 480 screws. It takes 24 members of the backstage crew to run each performance and 1,168 pyrotechnics will have been fired during the entire run of 73 pantomimes.

A thousand sparkly stones are attached to Lisa and Jake's dance outfits, and overall there are 510 feathers on the costumes, more than 100 pairs of shoes are used in the show, and 511 pairs of false eyelashes worn. The washing machine will be used 168 times during the run, and each animal costume takes between eight to 12 hours to dry.

Approximately 2,700 3D glasses are washed each day and on average three audience members per week return their real spectacles instead of their 3D glasses at the end of the show.

Groundbreaking special effects one again took centre stage this year, courtesy of The Twins FX, alias twin brothers Gary and Paul Hardy-Brown, who have created a towering beanstalk, a helicopter flying over the audience and a 3D journey through the Giant's castle.

Adam Renton, general manager of Bradford Theatres, said: "The sensational cast, combined with magnificent scenery, fabulous costumes and the return of 3D special effects guarantees that this year's Alhambra Theatre pantomime has something for everyone to enjoy.

"The fact that around 80,000 people see the theatre's pantomime each year is testimony to the huge affection Bradford audiences feel for the Alhambra festive show."