KickstArt presents their annual festive family panto, Puss in Boots, at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus in Durban from December 5 to January 11, 2016.

The pantomime is a rollicking, swashbuckling adventure, based on the classic story of Puss in Boots, but this version is set on an enchanted tropical island. Expect jokes a-plenty, gorgeous costumes, sumptuous sets and toe-tapping tunes!

Puss in Boots is written and directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King. Lighting is in the capable hands of multi-award winning designer Tina le Roux.

“This year, we proudly present our very own swashbuckling version of the classic fairy tale Puss in Boots, featuring an all-star cast of highly experienced panto performers,” says Stead.

“Starring the charming and charismatic Rory Booth in the title role, we also happily welcome back panto stalwarts Bryan Hiles (as Puss’s hapless surfer-dude owner, Tom) and Darren King (Tom’s outrageous mother, Dame Marzipan, the village baker). These two fabulous artists have appeared in almost every single pantomime we have ever staged, and really know how to keep an audience entertained!

Every good panto needs a nasty villain, and rubber-faced, treacle-voiced Peter Court makes a meal of the dastardly Grimsby Withergood, a shape-shifting goblin wizard, while his nemesis, the good fairy, Calypso Honeybunch, is played with quirky style by much-loved Durban actress, Belinda Henwood.

More glamour comes in the form of two beautiful ladies, Londiwe Dhlomo, who plays the adventurous Princess Miranda, and Caitlin Kilburn as a slinky feline spy, Selina Swiftclaw. Rounding off the excellent cast is golden-voiced Lyle Buxton as a Johnny Bravo style mill owner, and Nhlakanepho Manqele as the jocular king of the enchanted island.

Says Stead: “We have decided to embrace the heat of Durban December and set this rollercoaster adventure on a Caribbean island, with colourful sets designed by the masterful Greg King, drenched in vines, hibiscus and frangipani, ranging from a village square, to a ball room in a royal palace, to a magical fairy grotto, to a wizard’s weird laboratory. The costume designs, by also by Greg are absolutely ravishing, and have been made with skill and care by our brilliant costumière, Shanthi Naidoo.”

The panto features well known songs such as Rhythm of the Night by Debarge, Michael Buble’s Sway, Katy Perry’s Roar, and Ricky Martin’s La Vida Loca, as well as a host of other hummable, popular songs that’ll have your toes tapping and your kids singing along!

I advise you all to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, as KickStArt’s pantos tend to sell out quickly. And remember that you can get special discounts on groups if you book before 4 December.

Performances are at 2.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday, with 7 pm shows Fridays and some Saturdays. Tickets range in price from R120 to R220.

Book through Computicket or at Shoprite and Checkers stores. For block bookings and information on group discounts, contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places: editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com or call her on 083 250 2690.

For more information about KickstArt Theatre or to join its mailing list, please visit  http://www.kickstarttheatre.co.za or the Facebook pages KickstArt Theatre Productions and Friends of KickstArt.