Chelsey Gillard is the writer and director of this year's Torch Theatre pantomime, Rapunzel. Emma went to have a chat with Chelsey backstage on the Torch Theatre main stage to find out all there is to know about the festive pantomime that can be seen at the Torch Theatre now.  

Why did you choose Rapunzel as the pantomime for 2025?  

I think that Rapunzel has all the ingredients to make a brilliant pantomime and it’s a well known fairytale. We've got our goodies, and our baddies and the awful Mother Gothel. We then add in some pantomime magic with a brilliant Dame. We also have a puffin.  

This story particularly came to my mind because when we were doing auditions for last year's pantomime, the runaway hit Jack and the Beanstalk, I met a really fantastic actor, and I thought he looked a lot like the prince from a very well known film. From then on, my mind was whirring and all of a sudden, all the pieces came together. I thought our Rapunzel could be locked in a lighthouse just off the coast of Milford Haven, rather than in a tower. And then, slowly but surely, all those incredible pantomime ingredients that we know and love all came together to create something really special.  

Torch pantomimes usually have a local focus, is that the case this year? 

Of course, we love to mention lots of local references in our pantomimes, because all our characters live and work in Pembrokeshire. So our fabulous dame, Belinda Beehive, has a hair salon called Bay Wash, which overlooks the sandy shores of Gelliswick. Our Rapunzel gets her magical powers from an incredible supernatural seaweed that grows somewhere between the waters of Skomer and Skokholm and  one of our characters is a gorgeous little Puffin called Zephyr, who, of course, comes from Skomer Island. There's also plenty of other local references, because it's where I live and I love to just give a shout out to the local places and local businesses that I adore around here.  

How have rehearsals gone? 

They’ve been an absolute joy and a pleasure. It was my first chance to think … have I got the casting right? Do they understand the characters they're playing? Are my jokes funny? I make sure that I tell everyone they have to laugh very loud before we begin. But it was an absolute pleasure. There were moments that surprised me, there were moments that delighted me. And each and every one of the cast this year has really come with, you know, just silliness in their heart and a lot of festive spirit. It's been an incredible time, and we all enjoy singing the brilliant songs written by our fabulous composer, James Williams, who has absolutely outdone himself. They all look absolutely extraordinary in their costumes. There's plenty of sequins, plenty of glitter, and that kind of just cheeky silliness that you've come to expect from a Torch Theatre pantomime.  

What makes the Torch pantomime so unique?  

I think the Torch pantomime is unique because so many people from Pembrokeshire are involved in making it happen. We make it brand new, absolutely unique for our audiences right here, so we're able to respond to things that are happening locally. So many of our actors are local, so they are people who maybe attended the Torch Youth Theatre, or grew up coming to the Torch and have then gone off to do their training at drama school. They really understand what a privilege it is to be sharing their Christmas time with everybody who comes to see the show. We absolutely love bringing you the very, very best professionals, whether that's on stage or off stage. In our design team, every single person loves panto, and loves sharing it with all of you.  

Is there something for everyone in this pantomime?  

Of course, our Rapunzel is still a princess locked away in a tower, but she takes absolutely no nonsense. She is not afraid to go on an adventure herself and s she's certainly not hanging around just waiting for a prince to come and save her. But having said that, our prince is absolutely the bravest, boldest person, even though he gets a little bit scared sometimes, and he will go to the edge of the world to make sure that the people he cares about are safe. All of the characters will make sure there are plenty of chances to join in, whether you are a little princess, a little prince, a sea monster, or maybe even a sea witch. There will be plenty of chances to clap along, sing along, and be part of the story.

Every year we hold a design competition for local children to design a really important element of our pantomime. This year, it was a chance to design a terrifying sea monster that is controlled by our baddie Mother Gothel, and the entries have been absolutely extraordinary! But of course, everybody becomes a goodie in the end. In the pantomime world, we really can't wait to share all of this festive magic with you very, very soon.

Rapunzel is currently running and can be seen until 28 December. Tickets are selling fast so do make sure you book yours right away! Click here.