IT should have been the tradition that died. With the increased sophistication of our children and the diversions that we all have at this time of year, pantomime should have been the one theatrical event that never saw the spotlight again.

Instead, the opposite has happened. The tradition has been embraced by a new generation of writers and actors, particularly when it comes to the King's in Glasgow. This year the theatre returns to the tale of Sleeping Beauty with Elaine C Smith Jonathan Watson, Barbara Rafferty and Dave Anderson among the well-known faces. It has been 21 years since this story has been told at the King's - the previous version starred Rikki Fulton, Una McLean and Walter Carr.

In the mid 1990s it seemed that the panto may have been heading for history but when this generation of new performers (and writers such as Bob Black) tackled it with a more contemporary slant, the crowds came rushing back.

More than 100,000 people saw Aladdin at the King's last year and ticket bookings for this year are already in excess of 70,000. The show runs from Friday, December 4 to Saturday, January 16 (with two performances on most days).

There is, however, stiff competition from Glasgow's other family theatre the Pavilion who are welcoming The Krankies back for another panto season, this time with The Magical Adventures of Pinocchio. They are joined by Jimmy Cricket, Skoosh presenters Craig Elliot and Alison Douglas as well as Derek Lord from High Road as a baddie to make Sneddon cower in fear.

This is a panto for the long run. It opened yesterday and runs until Saturday, January 23. To book contact 0141 332 1846.

Down on the coast the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr, Mother Goose is the panto they hope will take off. Again High Road is well represented with Gwyneth Guthrie (Mrs Mac) and Mary Riggans (Effie). Dean Park plays the dame, but there is a wealth of new talent such as Vivienne Carlyle, a young woman from Waterfoot who will rise up the bill pretty quickly.

Mother Goose begins on Saturday, December 5 and runs until January 16. More details and tickets from 01292 611222.

More new talent at the Mitchell Theatre where the Spotlight Stage School presents Aladdin from Tuesday, December 15. Young people run this ambitious stage school project and the cast may be unknown but they are the new talent that may keep the Glasgow panto tradition going when the current King's stars can barely make it to the grand circle as spectators. Contact 0141 287 5511 for more details and tickets.

Cumbernauld Theatre has another new show this year, a production of Cinderella which has the freshness of a fresh adaptation by Simon Sharkey, without losing any of the traditional values of that well-loved story. For those outside the city who don't want to have the parking hassles of the city, the Cumbernauld Theatre Company, in this more intimate venue offer a first class alternative. Contact 01236 732887.

Stuart Paterson's Merlin the Magnificent is well into its run at the Citizens Theatre now but it runs until December 26 and offers all the magic of the myth with a production which is more of a show than a pantomime. Contact 0141 429 0022 for details.

There are other Christmas treats for the little'uns, however. The Happy Gang is on the road with its Castle of Adventure, stopping at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh from December 3 to 12 before heading west to the Lomond Auditorium of the SECC in Glasgow from December 15 to 22. For Edinburgh details contact 0131 228 1404, in Glasgow 0141 287 7777.

But the Singing Kettle are also on the move. Santa's Musical Toyshop is working away at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh until Sunday, December 6. It then moves on to the Magnum Centre in Irvine from December 10 to 13 before landing at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall where it will be switched on between December 17 and 28. For Edinburgh information contact 0131 529 6000. In Irvine 01294 278381 and in Glasgow 0141 287 5511. If that lot doesn't make Scrooge dash off to the shops for an advent calendar, nothing will.