ENTERTAINMENT

Experience winter magic with Puss in Boots at The Baxter Theatre

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read
Rory Booth, plays the swashbuckling feline hero, descended from a long line of noble Spanish cats - Puss in Boots, also known as Tiddles; and his hapless owner, and sometime surfer, played by Kyran Brady Taylor.
Rory Booth, plays the swashbuckling feline hero, descended from a long line of noble Spanish cats - Puss in Boots, also known as Tiddles; and his hapless owner, and sometime surfer, played by Kyran Brady Taylor.Picture: Val Anderson

This winter, as Cape Town settles into its quieter rhythms and school holidays begin, KickstArt Theatre returns to the Baxter with Steven Stead’s Puss in Boots, a lively pantomime for the whole family, running for a limited season from Friday, June 26, until Saturday, July 18.

Following the success of last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk, the company continues to build a growing winter tradition at the Baxter with a production that invites audiences to step out of the cold and into a world of music, mischief, and shared laughter.

Puss in Boots is set on a magical Caribbean island and follows a quick-witted feline hero on a playful adventure filled with colourful characters, lively songs, and plenty of audience participation.

Calypso Honeybunch, a good fairy, guardian of the Island of Esperanza, played by Belinda Henwood, and Grimsby Withergood an evil, shape-shifting goblin wizard played by Bryan Hiles.
Calypso Honeybunch, a good fairy, guardian of the Island of Esperanza, played by Belinda Henwood, and Grimsby Withergood an evil, shape-shifting goblin wizard played by Bryan Hiles.Picture: Val Adamson

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

Written and directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King, the show brings together a strong cast, including Rory Booth as the booted hero, Belinda Henwood as the good fairy Calypso Honeybunch, and Bryan Hiles as the villainous Grimbsy Withergood.

"We are very proud of our family-oriented pantomimes, which are made with great love and much attention to detail," said Stead.

"When the Cape Town audience for our Jack and Beanstalk was so overwhelmingly positive, we knew that we had to bring Puss in Boots down this year. It is a wild ride for an audience, with huge laughs, gorgeous visuals, and a totally original spin," he said.

Blessing Xaba as Mother of Marzipan and Mthokozisi Zulu as King Magnum share a moment of levity while imprisoned in the ogre's whaky dungeon.
Blessing Xaba as Mother of Marzipan and Mthokozisi Zulu as King Magnum share a moment of levity while imprisoned in the ogre's whaky dungeon.Picture: Kim Stevens

It will be on stage at the Pam Golding Theatre at The Baxter, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 2.30pm; Wednesdays and Saturdays 11am and 3pm.

Tickets are R300 for adults with a discounted price of R250 for children.

Bookings are available via Webtickets.

For groups and school bookings, please contact Mark Dobson at mark.dobson@uct.ac.za.

The production runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 20-minute interval, and carries an age restriction of no under 3.

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