Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, a curious community reviewer set off on a journey, armed with a notebook and plenty of excitement, to attend the first read-through of The Torch Theatre’s brand-new Christmas pantomime, Rapunzel for 2025. The path led not through dark forests, but along the familiar streets of Milford Haven, where sea breezes whispered of magic yet to comb.

If you’re searching for a Hair-larious helping of festive fun this holiday season, look no further. Brilliantly written and directed by Artistic Director Chelsey Gillard, this enchanting new adventure promises to let down its hair in style. Expect waves of laughter, strands of silliness, and enough panto magic to make audiences comb over with delight! From the tiniest of tangles to the grandest of curls, this production will surely weave its way into everyone’s hearts, one strand at a time.

The cast, brimming with local talent, is set to shine brighter than a freshly polished pearl. Lloyd Grayshon returns as the ever-lovable Dame, Belinda Beehive, a glamorous hairdresser who’s truly a cut above the rest. It’s all snips ahoy and hair and square aboard this seaside adventure! Sharing the stage once again is Freya Dare as Zephyr, the wiggling puffin from Skomer Island, with feathers full of flair and a friendship that is truly unbe-weavable. Zephyr’s charm will make audiences fall head over heels for Rapunzel’s loyal companion.

Adding even more sparkle are Holly Mayhew as the radiant Rapunzel, whose golden locks could light up the Pembrokeshire coast, and Harry Lynn as Prince Nathaniel of Neyland, dashing and determined, and perhaps in need of a good comb-over. Together, their chemistry flows smoother than freshly conditioned curls, a perfect pairing for a tangled tale of Row-mance. The captivating Jess Dyas slips seamlessly into the role of Mother Gothel, Siren of the Sea, a vision of shimmering danger, a true tress-passer in this hairy-tale. Meanwhile, Eifion Ap Cadno brings a splash of mischief and magic as Periwinkle in his pantomime debut, the sea sprite and guardian of the Cleddau.

Get ready to BEE brushed up on your hair-raising humour! as audiences will be swept into a golden locked adventure with seaside spectacle and strands of cheeky nods to beloved landmarks like Milford Marina and Marble Hall Chippy, this coastal caper will comb through every twist and curl of local colour, leaving audiences bee-witched and grinning from root to tip. what struck me the most during the read-through and I Bee-lieve fellow community reviewer Val Ruloff would agree with me that each moment has been brushed to perfection, and even in its earliest form each performer brought so much charm and energy and even the staging and costumes by Kevin Jenkins promises a shore-stopping, nautical extravaganza.perfectly complemented by James Williams’ original music, a tide of tunes and heartfelt melodies.

At the heart of this tress-merising production lies Chelsey Gillard’s script. Gillard has woven a tapestry of laughter, love, and local charm, blending coastal wit with fairytale wonder and nautical nonsense in a way that feels both timeless and totally Pembrokeshire.

So don’t get tangled up deciding what to see this Christmas. Drop anchor and comb over to the Torch Theatre. Prepare for a lovely lather of laughter, because this panto is sure to leave you tide up with joy!

Rapunzel will feature on the Torch Theatre stage from Saturday 06 December to Sunday 28 December. Price: £24.50 | £20.00 Cons | £78.00 Family. Relaxed Environment Performance - Saturday 13 December at 2pm. BSL Interpreted Performance (Liz May) - Tuesday 16th December 6pm. Too book your tickets, click here.