As we count our paws and claws to pantomime season and the Torch Theatre’s Puss in Boots with a Wild West theme, Val Ruloff, our community reviewer, attended the read through. She thought it was cat-tastic! Read her review below, where she spills some beans but doesn’t let the cat out of the bag. 

Hold onto your ten-gallon hats!!

Make sure to be quick on the draw.

Pistols- Crayons at dawn.

The cat's out of the bag- Puss in Boots is happening at a theatre near you- the Torch Theatre!

Chelsey Gillard, Torch Artistic Director, has mined a rich seam of creativity and talent and has (already) struck gold with this year’s pantomime treasure.

Puss In Boots looks poised to delight. Kevin Jenkins has outdone himself! The set design is imaginative and exciting- full of dynamic and varied scenery- looking set to meet the wow factor! I've even heard tell that the actual sets are within a whisker's breadth of being put into place already!

Costumes are fabulous- a joy to behold. Having scrutinised the designer fashion collection- I deem them catwalk ready! I mean- red-hot and white-hot catsuits are not beyond the realms of possibility- to make an appearance worthy of a romantic hero! 

Not to mention the raiment fit for a certain beautiful, glamorous icon of the modelling world to make the stunning entrances expected and eagerly awaited by her army of adoring fans! 

Cast is inspired- fantastic mix of colourful characters jumbling and tumbling over each other, pawing their way around a series of madcap-t adventures, mayhem, wild (west) antics and furry frolicsome fun. Full to brimming with twinkles and sparkles!

Freya Dare is Puss, purr-fectly adorable and full of feline grace. She brings a beguiling blend of great, big, melting puppy cat's eye stares and kitty-speak rich in the language of meows, purrs and hisses.

Samuel Freeman is back to grace the Torch stage as a very steely villain. 

Dog Cat-gone it- he's the Sheriff! No corrosion here, this man of steel somehow manages to keep himself rust-free and even achieve lovable rogue status.

The Sheriff has his very own starry-eyed sidekick- deputy Seren, played by a shimmering Elinor Crane.

Twm Foolery, cobbler extraordinaire to the V.I. Puss, is played by Callum Anthony. Cat's eyes might detect a glimmer- sensitive whiskers might twitch at the scent of romance in the air, with some ready-made romantic heroes here.

Bonny-Anne Clyde is played by Kelly Jackson, all set to run rings- or maybe semi circles- around any plot perpetrated by our resident villain at large!

Wait a second here- who's this waiting in the wings to make a grand entrance on the stage of her very own fashion saloon? Wooww! It is none other than Savannah Montana, pulling out all the stops- with the aid of Lloyd Grayshon's redoubtable skills!

What in tarnation is gonna happen next? Keep up at the back! Fast paced, riotous, romping, tub thumping, yeehaw, yippee-ai-yay shenanigans are on a runaway train track- with twists and turns and surprises along the way-  to find the happy ending and to put all the wrongs to right. 

Darn rootin' tootin’ right!

Aw, Shucks!! 

Puss in Boots can be seen at the Torch Theatre from Saturday 5 December to Saturday 2 January. Relaxed Environment Performance: 19 December at 2pm. BSL Interpreted Performance: Tuesday 22 December at 6pm. Book your tickets via the website at torchtheatre.co.uk / Box Office: 01646 695267.