Review: PUSS IN BOOTS, Theatre Royal Winchester

At Theatre Royal Winchester this holiday season, Play to the Crowd is bringing one of the classic pantomimes, Puss in Boots, to life in a pawsome new production, written and directed by Robin Belfield. Audiences join Puss (Bekah Selina), who must not only battle the evil Fluella Frostbite (Emma Fenney) but also train a clumsy young boy named Colin (Liam Watson) to become the hero who will save the day. As the son of a poor Miller (Andrew Wheaton), Colin must face his fears in order to win the heart of Princess Claribelle (Jess Lobo) and defeat evil - will he succeed?

This production of Puss in Boots is one with original music, which has been composed by Simon Slater (also responsible for sound design). For those who see multiple pantomimes in a year and have grown a bit tired of the same pop songs being used again and again (if one had a nickel for every time they’ve heard a parody of “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters . . .), fear not - Slater’s songs manage to capture the joy of parodying pantomime numbers whilst being their own creations. There’s even the classic sing-along number before the big finale, which audience members may find themselves humming as they leave the theatre.

Selina does a wonderful job of embodying the fearless and sassy titular role, taking on catlike traits like running a “paw” through her ears and constantly moving around the stage. Her numbers tend to be the most impressive of the show, including one about braving the “Cat Walk,” nicely choreographed by Sam Taylor-Martin. In comparison to the cocky Puss, Watson plays Colin as a silly yet sweet comic character, always interacting with the audience and tripping over the air. He has lovely chemistry with the strong Lobo, who gives Princess Claribelle her own authority in comparison to the scaredy-cat Old King Cole (Wheaton). 

The two strongest characters, however, are - as one might expect from a pantomime - the villain and the Dame. Fenney is clearly having a fun time as Fluella Frostbite, encouraging the audience to boo her every move and dosing out rhyming couplets. Julian Eardley is a force to be recokened with as Dame Dolly Duster, stealing every scene he appears in, the funniest being one with Watson and Wheaton as they perform a reimagining of the iconic “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with some surprising props!

A highlight of this pantomime is its inclusion of what they call a “Community Ensemble,” made up of Lucy Baxter, Becky Dennis, Mazey Rogers, Mia Haimes, Daisy Hicks, Megan Hinton, Rosie Henson, Preston Gritt and Evelyn Biggerstaff. All of these performers do a great job of working with the actors on stage, making up the background characters of the show and sometimes even going into the audience to dance! There are also some unexpcted yet pretty impressive puppets, courtesy of Amelia Bird, including an adorable cat (puppeteered by Maria Kyriacou) before Puss has their magical transformation and a humongous ogre (Jack Oliver) for Colin’s final battle again Fluella Frostbite.

Puss in Boots is a delightful and refreshingly new take on the classic pantomime tale - or should one say tail? The show offers a fun and meow-gical night out for audiences of all ages, with a talented cast performing fantastic original music. Belfield has written a pantomime that could easily become one used across the country for years to come - just be sure to keep an eye out for Fluella Frostbite’s rats!

Puss in Boots runs until 4 January 2026 at Theatre Royal Winchester.