Puss In Boots (South Shields)

The Customs House casts its magic again with another pantomime favourite, Puss In Boots, brought to life with their usual enthusiasm, flair and panache. The veteran duo of Ray Spencer and Bob Stott as Tommy and Dame Dotty rekindle their 35-year working partnership for another winter season with the usual slapstick, banter and innuendos that the audience know and love.

Dame Dotty and Tommy are threatened with eviction and with a little help from an Enchantress (Alice Brown) and a Puss In Boots, the duo come up with a plot to foil Osborne the Ogre’s (Peter Darrant) evil plan.

Spencer and Graeme Thompson’s re-writing of up-to-date pop tunes into pantomime fayre is clever and highly entertaining. The supporting cast of Henchmen, Cleggy (Ryan Lynch) and Cammy (Craig Richardson) are amusing and compliment Darrant’s well polished villian.

With a few puffs of smoke and a firework or two, Puss In Boots entertains the young and the old alike with something for everyone.

But its Stott’s sharp wit and ability to engage with the audience that brings the show together.

This year’s “little panto with the big heart” will not disappoint those looking for classic family pantomime fun