Puss in Boots 2019

The fur flies at the Fisher theatre right now in Bungay at its renowned annual panto. This year it's Puss in Boots! based not too litter-ally on a 17th century French-Italian fairy-tail. The Upshoot players bring their usual energy to this story of a talking cat (Hayley Evenett), a devilish, at times purr-plexed ogre (Simon Michael-Morgan), an imprisoned Brunhilde-lookalike Queen (Helen Fullerton) - and the frustrated Strictly contender, Irn-Bru gag fuelled Colin (Callan Durrant). Audience paw-ticipation is key to every successful show and there are opportunities aplenty led by fancifully-frocked Betty the cook  (Peter Sowerbutts). If you're an attractive young(-ish) man, sit in the front at your own risk! No panto would be right without Ugly Sisters (Daisy Plackett and Georgie Matthews) who double up as glamour-pusses Nima and Princess Catherine. Other parts are played with relish by members of the Fisher Youth Theatre Groups. The stentorian tones of James Ducker guides the audience through the sometimes chaotic, song and dance-strewn plot. Unlike a new pet, panto is just for Christmas, a treasured tradition in this increasingly virtual, screen-dominated world. Live theatre is the best antidote to all that. Like all good weddings, great panto has something old (jokes and routines), something new (script, choreography, sets and sounds), something borrowed (costumes) and, if you want to wait that long, the 'adult' version on 4 January 2020 will probably have lots of blue. Director Laila France and an in-house production team, led by Darren France, bring us a cracking show, and you can be sure of a warm welcome by Cory Minns, Dan Millar and the volunteers at the Fisher theatre. Book now at www.fishertheatre.org or on 01986 897 130.