It takes place around Christmas, it's based on a well-known children's story, the principal boy is played by a girl - usually in tights - and the dame is played by a man; there is always a villain, and audience participation is essential. Yes, boys and girls, we are talking about the Christmas panto. Over the last 12 years Durban's KickstArt Production Company has given us 10 pantomimes, and actor Bryan Hiles has been in every one.What's been your go-to panto role over the years?Aside from this year, I have always played the guy who deals with the audience, the one who gets the audience to yell out when something happens. My first role was Buttons in Cinderella.And this year?I play the straight lead, a bit of an anti-hero, a cool surfer dude called Tom.Your favourite role?Playing Cessil as part of the duo, Cessil and Claude, in Robin Hood. He was a real standout character, a completely mindless idiot, but lovable at the same time.Worst role?Not so much the role but the fact that I got a kidney stone while playing Huckleby Hopscotch in Sleeping Beauty. I passed the stone minutes before walking onto stage one night during our run.What role would you like to try?I'd love to be a dame - it would be a new thing to sink my teeth into. It's really not easy though - it takes a certain kind of person. It needs to have some truth about it. You can't just be a bloke in a dress being silly.Are you doing anything different this time around?I'm pretending I can dance. I'm going to fool you all. I'm also pretending that I can play the ukulele - but not at the same time.Do you have any difficult audiences?Not with pantos. The audience is always ready and willing. So saying, sometimes the munching, the scrunching, the sweet wrappers and the chip packets get to you. Of course, cellphones really bug us all. I hate looking out and see a glowing face in the dark of someone writing a WhatsApp.Your favourite costume?That would be the one with the least layers. Remember this is December in Durban under lights. It's seriously hot. Best costume was probably what I wore as Wishy Washy in Aladdin. It was thin, only two pieces, with ¾ length pants and a top. Lovely!And your least favourite?Definitely the costume I wore as Huckleby Hopscotch. It had an endless amount of brass buttons, and I had to do forward rolls that hurt because the buttons would dig into me. I think it's the reason I got a kidney stone.What do you want to say to all the boys and girls out there?Come and watch Puss in Boots, boys and girls - because I'm in it.Puss in Boots is on at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from December 5 to January 11. Booking is at Computicket...