THIS year's Torch Theatre Company Christmas musical panto - Jack and the Beanstalk - commenced on Tuesday, with the first schools' matinee performance. This year's show is a fairytale with a difference...
Set in Wild West Wales - the actors will perform the familiar fairy story on a desert orange set (designed by Sean Crowley) inhabited by all kinds of gun-slingin' characters.
Princess Roxanne (Tonya Smith) - Jack's love interest - is daughter of The King (Elvis Presley lookalike and songalike Garry Lake - the memorable dentist and voice of Audrey II in the Torch's recent 'Little Shop of Horrors').
At the top of the beanstalk lives the Giant... or does he...? Igor (Jon Atkins) is the keeper of the giant's key and he's not giving anything away - certainly not his giant-sized Tesco shopping trolley and loyalty card!
But hang on - Jack's Mum - Dame Trot (Lee Mengo) has spotted something familiar about Igor - she didn't have a fumble with him at the line-dancing class down at the Vic Social Club, did she...?!
And the cow's not all she appears - Denise (Karin Diamond) is a bit mad - she doesn't know what day of the week it is, let alone all the udder stuff she needs to know in order to guide Jack to his destiny...
Peter Doran's fairytayle is wacky, wild and full of original music from the familiar pen of James Williams ('Aladdin', 'Pinocchio').
Don't miss this gun-totin', boot-scootin', foot-tappin' extravaganza! Tickets are selling fast.
Schools' matinees will run until Friday, December 21, at 10 am and 2 pm (the general public may purchase tickets for these performances, subject to availability - check with the box office on 01646 695267).
Public performances commence on Friday, December 21, with Father Christmas visiting the Torch on Saturday, December 22, with a present for every boy and girl booked in to see the evening performance. Tickets are priced at £8.50 and £5.50 (discounts). Family tickets are priced at £25 each (two adults, two children). Please contact the box office for details on (01646) 695267.
Early booking recommended!