PERISH the thought, but Christmas shopping has already started... at least in theatre box offices as local pantomimes start booking.

Puss in Boots is the choice of The Theatre, Chipping Norton. Produced by its usual popular panto team, the story focuses on Old Bill the Miller who died, leaving his wife and children with nothing but a decrepit mill, a donkey and a talkative tomcat.

Can Puss revive their fortunes, or can the ogre catch him first? It runs from November 17 to January 7. Box office 01608 642350.

Pershore will have a version of Scrooge The Musical performed at its Number 8 community theatre by Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society. It runs from December 5 to 10. Box office: 01386 555488.

Malvern Theatres has launched its pantomime 2005 - Peter Pan - which starts on December 16.

Based on J M Barrie's famous story, the panto follows the tale of Wendy, Michael and John Darling's adventures in Neverland with the boy who never grew up.

Ron Moody, star of the film Oliver!, will be soaking up the boos and hisses as Captain Hook and Kasia Haddad, Josie Jump from Balamory, plays Princess Tiger Lily.

It runs until January 8. Box office: 01608 892277.

At Worcester's Swan Theatre, Jack and the Beanstalk promises all the traditional laughs, music and it's-behind-you fun from December 7 to 28. Box office: 01905 611427.

At Warwick Arts Centre, there is a slightly different type of Christmas family show with Jason and the Argonauts, a restaging of a show which took the Battersea Arts Centre by storm two years ago. It runs from November 26 to December 31.

Then it's back to tradition with another giant of a show in Cheltenham, at the Everyman Theatre, which is also Jack and the Beanstalk, running from December 2 to January 14. Box office: 01242 572573.