As the Torch Theatre enters its second week of festive pantomime fun, Anwen caught up with Rapunzel (Holly Mayhew) to see how it’s all going in her lighthouse.

Rapunzel! Tell us a bit about your role and what’s it like playing the main character?

Well of course it’s so much fun I get to see pretty much all of the first half of the show being played out from my lighthouse, I get to sing some of the best songs and do some pretty fun dancing

What are your favourite things about being a princess?

Getting the best birthday parties in the county thrown for me!! Be there or be square!!

How do you look after your beautiful hair – does it not get tangled?

My hair can get awfully tangled up and then I’m stuck, even more stuck than usual, it’s important to make sure I have multiple hairbrushes and combs to hand

Zephyr the Puffin is one of your best friends – what do you both get up to?

We love to imagine all of the adventures we’d go on by making up stories and characters and acting them out in the lighthouse usually with a song and dance too. Zephyr will go fly around and tell me all about the amazing things they’ve seen beyond what I can see from my window, I’m one lucky girl.

What was the most surprising thing about the world outside the lighthouse here in Pembrokeshire?

How many animals you have about on the streets, I’ve met, cats, dogs, foxes and even a few badgers. The food is also so delicious and the ice cream I just can’t get enough of it!!! I am sure there must be something different in the milk here in Pembrokeshire to make it so tasty.

We really want to know more about Mother Gothel ... what is she like? Should we be scared?

Mother Gothel is a mighty sea sorceress with strong powers that can sometimes not always be used for good. But her rubbish cooking skills are what you really should be scared of.

As with every pantomime, there are good people too – Belinda Beehive, Prince Nathaniel of Neyland and Periwinkle. What do you all get up to?

We love to go on adventures even if that does mean us ending up in a bit of a pickle in and underwater lair and of course popping to Belinda’s salon Baywash to get a makeover. 

Do you enjoy the silly wiggling dance in the company of Zephyr?

One of mine and Zephyrs favourite thing to do together is sing and dance. Did you know wiggling is a surprisingly good way to get out of extremely tangled up hair?

Describe Rapunzel in three words.

Bubbly. Bouncy. Determined.

How will you adjust to life outside the lighthouse?

By relying on all my amazing friends to show me the best the land has got to offer and diving straight into the sea - but maybe that’ll have to wait until it’s a bit warmer.

Rapunzel, the hair-raising adventure can be seen on the Torch Theatre stage now until Sunday 28 December. Relaxed Environment Performance Saturday 13 December at 2pm and BSL Interpreted Performance on Tuesday 16 December at 6pm. Ticket price: £24.50 | £20.00 Cons | £78.00 Family. For further information visit the Torch Theatre website www.torchtheatre.co.uk/phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267 or click here.

Image: Chris Lloyd