ALL good Christmas shows start off with once upon a time and in keeping with the spirit of the festive season so does this article.

Once Upon A Time, let's say circa 1984, possibly 1985, I successfully auditioned for a part in the Mercury Theatre pantomime, which at the time was Babes in the Wood.

Fortunately no pictures have survived from that time, so all I have are the memories, dark distant memories.....

Now a couple of years ago the lovely people at the Mercury did dress me up in an Elf costume and allowed me on stage, albeit very fleetingly for one night only as part of a long running gag in Cinderella, but I did point out that's not the same as being in the Junior Chorus.

I insisted the best way to re-kindle my brief time on the stage, all those years ago, as a member of the Junior Chorus, would be joining this year's chorus to see how much it's changed.

And they agreed. Just for the day, of course.

So it's a cold November morning and outside of the Mercury Theatre's Rehearsal Room 1, there's a gaggle of young people all waiting outside of the door eager to get in and looking at me in a slightly suspicious way.

One perky little youth, for the purposes of this write-up let's call him Joe, because that's his name, asks why I'm here and when I tell them 'to find out what it's like being in the Junior Chorus' they all smile rather knowingly and actually quite menacingly.

That's because, I later discover, while being in the Junior Chorus is an incredible experience for any young budding performer, it also requires a lot of hard work, some juggling of their school time, and pretty much kissing their Christmas social life goodbye.

Inside I meet Charlie Morgan, the Mercury Panto's choreographer for the last few years and someone who in the past has also appeared on stage in the Colchester theatre's end of year production.

"They're amazing," she smiles. "The routines are pretty tricky and there's a lot to learn but they pick it up ever so quickly and are really very professional in the rehearsal process, and when the show starts its run.

"Panto has to have a lot of energy and that's what they have to bring to the show, and plenty of it."

And so it begins - with that word 'energy' and Charlie explains what I'm going to be doing this morning, which in essence is watching the first team of the Junior Chorus (the Spots) do the Panto's opening number, to then take part with the other team (the Stripes).

But before all of this starts a slight technical hitch with the music gives me ample opportunity to get some insider tips from some of the chorus members.

And I choose well.

That's because Beth Adamson, 13, from Colchester, and Josh Tarrier, 14, of Ardleigh, have been in the Junior Chorus before.

Josh says: "Both Beth and I were in the pantomime last year so this is our second time.

"I've been in school shows before and with my theatre school that I go to but never anything like this. Being on the Mercury stage is really exciting and last year I was really nervous about doing it. This year the rehearsals have been so much more enjoyable because I know what's to come. I know what fun the show is going to be and I can't wait for it to start."

"There's a lot of hard work," Beth adds, "and every year it's a different pantomime so there are different routines to learn. Like Josh I was pretty nervous last year but in the end you don't have time to be really nervous. You have to concentrate and get the dances right and make sure you're in the right place when you're supposed to be."

"I like the fact that it is a team effort," Josh smiles, "everyone works together and that's a really lovely part of it all. There are times when you have to be off school and catch up with your work there but it's all worth it in the end."

This all sounds great but to find out what it's like for a newbie, like me, I need to find someone who is doing the Junior Chorus for the very first time and I'm happy to find Maddie Hawes, also from Colchester, and at the age of 11, the youngest in this year's ensemble.

Maddie says: "Auditioning was the scary part. I had to sing and dance, and the routine was quite a complicated one, but I listened and watched Charlie really carefully and thankfully I got a recall.

"I wasn't really sure whether I had got in or not but when they told me I was so excited and started jumping around. My family are really proud of me and are all looking forward to coming to see the show."

I'm not exactly sure my family are going to be proud of me when they see the final video of me trying out a Junior Chorus routine but I can assure them I did my best.

With a little bit of coaching, and basically following a very helpful member of the chorus who guides me through the melee, mainly so I don't hit the other young performers, I spin round, I apply some jazz hands, I skip about the stage, clapping hands, by the side, then above my head, all while trying to catch my breath.

And in a flash it's all over. The opening number, been and gone, and I ask the Junior Chorus whether I might still have what it takes to join their team, obviously hypothetically if I wasn't a middle-aged man with a middle-aged spread.

Their faces say it all.

"Don't call us. We'll call you!"

Ah well, there's always next year.

Dick Whittington starts its lengthy run at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, from tomorrow, continuing until January 8.

For tickets call the box office on 01206 573948.