Local families have a new reason to head out this winter, with KickstArt Theatre’s Puss in Boots opening at the Pam Golding Theatre at the Baxter from Friday 26 June to Saturday 18 July.

Written and directed by Steven Stead, the production follows last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk at the same venue, continuing what has become a growing winter pantomime tradition at the Baxter.

About the show

Set on a magical Caribbean island, the pantomime follows Puss in Boots, a quick-witted feline hero, through a world of colourful characters, lively songs and plenty of audience participation.

The show is designed to delight younger audiences with slapstick and spectacle, while offering humour and local references that adults can enjoy just as much.

The creative team

Puss in Boots is designed by Greg King, with choreography by Simone Mann and lighting design by Franky Steyn.

For King, pantomime holds a special place. “It was seeing pantomimes as a child that made me fall in love with the theatre at a young age. And it’s an enormous pleasure to be able to spread that infectious joy, and love of live performance to new generations.”

Director Stead says the company is looking forward to the upcoming run. “Puss in Boots is looking and feeling fresh, funky and fabulous! Although the cast are working really hard, we are all having so much fun. The show is genuinely hilariously funny; I find myself laughing out loud a lot, which is very unusual. The choreography is vibrant and exciting, and the vocals are thrilling. We are really looking forward to moving into the Baxter Theatre, and bringing some verve and vitality to Cape Town this winter.”

Meet the cast

The production features a lively ensemble of characters:

Puss in Boots (aka Tiddles): a swashbuckling feline hero, descended from a long line of noble Spanish cats (Rory Booth)

Calypso Honeybunch: a good fairy, guardian of the Island of Esperanza (Belinda Henwood)

Grimsby Withergood: an evil, shape-shifting goblin wizard (Bryan Hiles)

Tom Marzipan: Puss in Boots’ hapless owner and sometime surfer (Kyran Brady Taylor)

Tristram Marzipan: Tom’s muscle-bound, bone-headed bully of a big brother (Lyle Buxton)

Mother Merry Marzipan: Tom’s mother, the flamboyant village baker (Blessing Xaba)

King Magnum, the Magnanimous: the gentle, pint-sized ruler of the Island of Esperanza (Mthokozisi Zulu)

Princess Miranda: Magnum’s feisty daughter (Roshanda Lewis)

Selina Swiftclaw: Lord Grimsby’s cat, a graceful but deadly assassin (Grace McIlroy)

Dancers: Milli Mangate and Sarah Tyrrell.

Tickets and times

Puss in Boots runs at the Pam Golding Theatre at the Baxter, Cape Town, from 26 June to 18 July, Mondays to Saturdays.

Performance times:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 14:30
• Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00 and 15:00

The show runs for 2 hours 15 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. No children under the age of 3 will be admitted.

Tickets are R300 for adults and R250 for children.

Book at Webtickets.

Contact Mark Dobson at mark.dobson@uct.ac.za for group bookings.

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