Torch artistic director Chelsey Gillard shares her love of the power of panto

Published

2 years ago

December 4, 2024

SOMEWHERE in the depths of rural Pembrokeshire lurks a lady in yellow with turquoise hair, lips like cochineal slugs on steroids and a penchant for rolling in the grass with pigs.

Enter the world of panto.

“Lloyd Grayshon is in his absolute element,” laughs Chelsey Gillard who is the artistic director of the Torch Theatre at Milford Haven.

“Last year he was a huge favourite with the audiences when he played the dad in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ so this year we decided that he should play the dame in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. And he’s loving every minute – he’s even shaved his legs and painted his toenails to help him get into the role!”

No one can deny that staging a pantomime is one of the greatest challenges in the theatrical calendar, but when your task is to write it, cast it and direct your critical eye over every single aspect of its production, the job is mighty. Once again this year, the task is being carried out by Chelsey.

“Yes, it involves a tremendous amount of work and a lot of pressure, as the pantomime is the main focal point of the entire year,” she said.

“And you can rehearse a panto as many times as you want, but when the curtain opens, you just never know what to expect from your audience. This is why I often behave like an angry child when I’m directing, and the number of times I’ve heard our cast say, “And that child in Row C sounded exactly like you do in rehearsals” speaks for itself.”

This will be the second Torch pantomime written and directed by Chelsey, following last year’s hugely successful ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

“The wonderful thing about our audiences here in Pembrokeshire is that they really let us know what they think about a production,” she continues.

“Our box office staff have built up a strong relationship with our audiences, with the result that they hear first-hand what people think. And obviously the audience’s participation is extremely important because it helps us to understand what people are enjoying as well as the things they don’t like. You can just sense it.”

One of the requests from last year’s audience was for more ‘cheeky humour’.

“So needless to say, we’ve made sure that this year they’ll be getting plenty of it,” chuckled Chelsey. “It’s almost as if the Torch is putting on a bespoke production, tailor-made for the Pembrokeshire audience.”

But it’s that instinctive understanding of an audience’s reaction that makes the panto challenge so invigorating for the entire production team.

“Obviously there are certain sections which rely on audience participation, and if the audience is a bit quiet, then the characters will have to work very hard to get them on board.

“Similarly, our dame occasionally homes in on an individual in the audience, but her job is then to try and gauge how far that individual can be pushed. Can they go just that little bit further or should they hold back?”

In charge of the set and costume design is Kevin Jenkins and every costume has been handmade by Louise Sturley and maintained throughout the production by wardrobe mistress Wendy Haslam.

***Elena Carys-Thomas, Cari Munn, Gareth Elis and Lloyd Grayshon***

Even though the opening night isn’t until December 13, productions are already well underway for local primary schools throughout Pembrokeshire as well as a few schools in south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire.

“Approximately 4,000 children will have attended this year’s pantomime by opening night which is fantastic, when you consider that this could possibly be the very first live performance that many of them will have seen,” continues Chelsey.

“I can remember one of my very first visits to the pantomime when I was a child and even though I can’t remember which pantomime it was, I vividly remember the baddie – who I’m convinced was Jeremy Irons – and he made me cry my eyes out. But I absolutely loved it and it opened up for me the absolute magic of the pantomime and the theatre.”

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is being played by a professional company, although many of its actors have strong links with Pembrokeshire including Milford Haven’s Sam Freeman, Lloyd Grayshon who lives in Haverfordwest and professional dancer, performer and choreographer, Freya Dare. Also taking part will be members of the Torch’s Youth Theatre (Years 5 and 6), who will be providing the voices of the Spirit of the Beans via recorded media.

“When you consider how hard the team has worked and how much they’ve achieved in such a relatively short space of time, you realise just how incredible they are,” Chelsey concluded.

“We had two and a half weeks in the rehearsal room, four days on the stage when we started putting everything together such as how to make the beanstalk work, how to set up the lights and the sound, ensure that the mics were all at the right level and throughout all this the cast are learning the songs, the dances, the words as well as getting to know each other as a company.

“They truly are a magnificent team to work with, and what they have created will hopefully show our audiences, both children and adults alike, the real magic of pantomime.”

Community

Swiss granddaughter returns to Pembroke Dock to honour wartime heroine

Published

5 minutes ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SWISS woman has returned to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to see a special display celebrating her grandmother’s remarkable wartime work helping Allied servicemen who escaped into neutral Switzerland.

Therese Burckhardt, from Zurich, is the granddaughter of Mrs Beryl Schaerer Morse, a former Pembroke Dock woman who was awarded the King’s Medal in 1952 for her service during the Second World War.

The rare medal, one of only around 2,500 awarded, is now on display at the Heritage Centre alongside photographs, family records and an information panel telling Mrs Schaerer Morse’s story.

Beryl Schaerer Morse was born in Pembroke Dock in 1887, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas Harrison Morse, who lived in Pembroke Dock and later Tenby.

After marrying a Swiss banker in 1913, she settled in Switzerland for the rest of her life, but always regarded Pembrokeshire as home. She returned for many summers to the family’s house in Tenby, which her grandparents had built in the 1930s.

During the Second World War, Mrs Schaerer Morse led an organisation assisting Allied servicemen who had escaped into neutral Switzerland. Her work was later recognised with the award of the King’s Medal.

Therese first visited the Heritage Centre last summer with childhood friend Penny Tighe, of Pembroke, bringing the medal and family records with her. She has now returned with further documents and family photographs to add to the centre’s archive.

Joining her again was Penny Tighe, along with Ruth Waddington, who now lives in the Tenby house where Therese spent many happy childhood holidays with her brother Roland, known affectionately to his grandmother as “Chips”.

Mrs Schaerer Morse died in 1967 and had expressly wished to be buried near her father at Llanion Cemetery, Pembroke Dock.

Therese said: “I am very pleased with how my grandmother’s medal and her story are displayed at the Heritage Centre, and also pleased to bring more records to add to the archive there.”

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is based at the Royal Dockyard Chapel and tells the story of the town’s maritime, aviation, military, social and community heritage.

Pembroke Dock was Wales’ only Royal Dockyard, a major garrison town, and during the Second World War was home to the largest flying boat station in the world.

The centre is currently open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Therese Burckhardt shows the King’s Medal, awarded to her grandmother, to Ruth Waddington at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre (Pic: PDHC).

Community

Pirates take over Pembroke Dock maritime museum

Published

43 minutes ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

VOLUNTEERS at West Wales Maritime Museum were praised after another successful Pirates Party brought crowds to Pembroke Dock.

The family event was held at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday (Jun 20), with visitors enjoying a day of maritime-themed entertainment, stalls, refreshments and fancy dress.

The museum, run by the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society, hosted the event with the help of volunteers, with activities including a tombola, raffle, barbecue, face painting, children’s games and a prize for the best-dressed pirate.

There was also live entertainment from the Cantabile Singers and the Barti Waves.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a musket firing display by the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group, which drew strong interest from those attending.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, was among those who visited the event.

He said it had been “a fantastic afternoon” and praised the volunteers who had worked hard to put on “another brilliant event”.

Cllr Grimes said: “There was plenty to see and enjoy, but my personal highlight had to be the musket firing display from the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group — a real crowd-pleaser with live firing.

“It was wonderful to see so many people coming along and supporting yet another successful event at the museum.”

He also thanked Peter Kraus and everyone involved for their dedication in bringing the event to life.

The West Wales Maritime Museum is based at the historic Hancock’s Yard and is run by volunteers who work to preserve Pembroke Dock’s maritime heritage.

The society restores and maintains classic boats, operates a museum of maritime artefacts and offers visitors a chance to learn more about the town’s long connection with the sea.

The museum has become an increasingly popular community venue, with events such as the Pirates Party helping to bring families into the town while celebrating Pembroke Dock’s seafaring past.

News

Father and son lifeboat volunteers answer emergency call off Broadhaven South

Published

2 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FATHER’S DAY celebrations were interrupted for several Tenby RNLI crew members on Sunday afternoon (Jun 21) after a five-metre RIB suffered engine failure off Broadhaven South and began drifting dangerously towards rocks.

The casualty vessel issued a Pan Pan call, prompting a Coastguard tasking to Tenby Lifeboats.

Among those responding were Coxswain Gary and his son Eddie, who still managed to spend part of Father’s Day together — although not quite in the way they may have planned.

The lifeboat was quickly launched and made best speed to the reported position, around nine miles west of Tenby Lifeboat Station.

When the crew arrived on scene, the engine of the casualty vessel had been restarted. However, with those on board concerned it could fail again, the Coxswain decided to escort the RIB back towards the entrance of the Milford Haven Waterway.

Once at the mouth of the waterway, the occupants were confident they could safely continue to their mooring without further assistance.

The lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station, arriving back at 5:50pm.