The Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy will once again host a major festive pantomime after casting and preparations were confirmed this week. Kim Shepherd, a long-time Fife performer who has toured Europe and appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe and the West End, will play Bonnie in Beauty And The Beast, written by Andy MacGregor.
Local cast and busy schedule
OnFife organisers say an initial read-through is planned in the coming days, with full rehearsals beginning in November. Costumes have arrived and photoshoots have been completed; tickets are on sale at OnFife.com.
The production brings together familiar faces from Fife’s pantomime tradition. Among the leads are:
- Kim Shepherd as Bonnie
- Colin Little in his eighth Fife panto as Dame Betty Bouquet
- Scott Watson as Arty Farty (Colin Little’s comedy partner)
- Derek McGhie as Gary Gaviscon
- Gill McGowan as the Enchantress
- Garry Ellis as Bonnie’s father, Boris
- Marc McMillan as the Beast and Prince Sebastian
"Costumes are here, photoshoots done and tickets now on sale at OnFife.com," organisers confirmed.
The company reports that pantomime weeks are intensive, with exclusive school shows contributing to a schedule that can include two performances a day in the run-up to Christmas. That pattern is familiar in Fife and across Scotland, where community theatres balance family audiences, school bookings and evening public performances.
Shepherd’s continuing local and international work
Kim Shepherd’s career spans local and international stages. Born in Dunfermline and raised in Crossford, she still lives in Fife. She was a member of the wedding band Cut The Cake and remains active with the group, which has been performing for almost 20 years. Shepherd has toured concert halls across Europe, featuring in large-scale concerts with a cast of about 70, a 35-piece orchestra and a 20-strong choir, performing music from shows such as The Lion King and selections from Game Of Thrones, Star Wars and Les Misérables.
Her stage résumé also includes a 2023 appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe in A Mirrored Monet at Greenside Nicolson Square, a New York musical production that subsequently transferred to the West End at Charing Cross Theatre earlier this year.
What Kirkcaldy audiences can expect
Locally, the return of a full-scale pantomime at the Adam Smith Theatre will be a focal point of the town’s festive cultural calendar. The production’s mix of experienced regional performers and larger production values aims to appeal to family audiences and school groups alike. With rehearsals scheduled for November and promotional activity already complete, the company is signalling readiness for a traditional busy panto season.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy |
| Production | Beauty And The Beast (Andrew MacGregor) |
| Lead role | Kim Shepherd as Bonnie |
| Rehearsals begin | November (full rehearsals) |
| Tickets | OnFife.com |
For many in Kirkcaldy, pantomime remains a key annual tradition, combining local talent with the kind of staging and music that draws audiences from across Fife. This year’s production follows several seasons in which OnFife and the Adam Smith Theatre have staged family shows, continuing a pattern that sustains employment for regional performers and provides community arts opportunities.
As rehearsals approach, organisers are inviting audiences to book early given the tight performance schedule and the inclusion of school-only matinees that typically occupy many of the daytime slots in December.
