There are several twists to London's first Jewish panto, but perhaps the most radical is that the Dame is played by a woman.

Nick Cassenbaum's mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs features Debbie Chazen as Mother Hoodman, whose daughter Red must bring back light to her village in time for Chanukah.

"If we are going to bend some rules let's bend some rules!" says the Golders Green performer.

"We do have gender swapping, our grandma - Bubbah - is played by a man, which left me free to play a woman, and I am thrilled."

The show at JW3 includes a sprinkling of Yiddish, and Klezmer musicians live on stage performing revamped lyrics to hits by Jewish performers from Amy Winehouse and Lionel Bart to Paul Simon and Doja Cat.Ham & High: Writer Nick Cassenbaum has penned an original panto that is a mash up of Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs with a Chanukah themeWriter Nick Cassenbaum has penned an original panto that is a mash up of Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs with a Chanukah theme (Image: Alex Brenner)

"It's Fiddler on the Roof meets Lady Ga Ga," says Chazen whose own first panto starred Danny La Rue at the London Palladium.

"It was the most exciting thing I had seen in my life! This is panto with a difference, with a Jewish twist, and yet exactly the panto we all remember from our childhoods."

From The Smoking Room to Tittybangbang to Trollied and Coronation Street, Chazen is well able to handle the comic aspects of the Dame.

"I was probably born in a suitcase on a panto stage. People have always accused me of being too big, but you don't have to tone it down for Panto. The Dame is a grotesque, ridiculous, narcissistic character who is also fun and charming. Mother Hoodman is a Jewish mother archetype who just wants her daughter to marry a nice man. I have the amplified boobs, comedy wig and costume changes, I am having the time of my life."

Chazen's past Panto experience includes the fairy godmother at The Barbican, and Cinderella's wicked stepmother in Stephen Fry's panto at the Old Vic.

"I've only been in posh panto, but I was dying to do it again. I loved flying around around the Barbican's stage and it was such an ego trip meeting little girls in my sparkly fairy costume - like being a superhero."

Chazen says the show has "every capitalist baddie you can think of". The Bad Pig is an energy baron selling electricity back to 'losers' at vastly inflated prices, and the Wolf is a landlord hiking up rents.

Not only does Red want to find a cheap, sustainable energy source for her village, but she hopes to celebrate Chanukah's message of bringing light in darkness. 

"The story of Chanukah is there was only oil enough to keep the everlasting light in the Temple going for one day. The miracle happened and the oil lasted for eight days, and that became the festival of lights. Red wants to keep the fires going to celebrate the festival. It's very timely."

Ham & High: Festive fun at JW3 includes the annual ice rink which opens on December 10Festive fun at JW3 includes the annual ice rink which opens on December 10 (Image: Blake Ezra)

Chazen says JW3's 220-seat theatre will be more intimate than some, but means "everyone can feel very involved."

"Panto is vital to British comedy, its power is the connection with the audience. It is so inclusive, welcoming, you are encouraged to shout and get involved. This could be some child's first experience of theatre, and what could be better that being part of that?"

Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Pig runs at JW3 from December 10 until January 7 at JW3, Finchley Road, NW3. The venue's annual ice rink is also open from December 10.