Susie McKenna will return to the Hackney Empire this Christmas to present Puss In Boots, her 15th pantomime for the East London venue.
The actor, writer and director’s now legendary festive offerings have long been a family favourite at the Hackney Empire, with each classic production reimagined for modern audiences and featuring show-stopping songs, dazzling dance routines and the silliest of humour.
Puss In Boots will be no exception, taking audiences through the merry kingdom of Hackneyonia from 23 November to 5 January and promising a heap of witty nods to contemporary London.
Speaking about the milestone production, McKenna said: “It has been an amazing 15 years of Hackney pantomimes. I wanted to bring the West End to the East End and create a pantomime for Hackney that was as unique as the borough. We are a family here at Hackney Empire and so many people both on stage and off have been with Steve [Edis, the show’s composer] and I for the whole journey, as has our audience.”
Based on a French fairy tale, Puss In Boots tells the story of a unique feline hero who is desperate to make his fortune. Heading off to Hackneyonia – in this version at least – the brave cat finds himself on a series of adventures in his quest for a better life.
The production will feature a magical mix of mash-ups, original songs and chart toppers created by McKenna’s long-time collaborator Edis and puppets by Scott Brooker, who is best known for his work on cult television comedy show Spitting Image.