Jack and the Beanstalk Archives

16Dec

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Regent Theatre

Well, it's here again (oh yes it is!), one of the most important dates in Stoke- on-Trent’s calendar. Its panto time! Written by Alan Mc Hugh, this year it is ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’ being performed at The Regent Theatre and perhaps more importantly, it is the return of Stokes very own and very much loved, Jonny Wilkes. Directed by Wilkes and Owen, both who also perform in the production, most must be familiar with this popular story of Jack who is asked to sell Daisy the cow at Market and returns with a bag of beans. The beans grow into a colossal beanstalk that Jack must climb to get to the top and save the day. Wilkes plays the part of Jack, a (very) simple soul who sells the families beloved cow ‘Daisy’ at the market (Leek Market that is). Wilkes is a master at treading the fin...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Floral Pavilion

14Dec

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Floral Pavilion

Floral Pavilion and Martin Dodd for UK Productions bring Jack and The Beanstalk to the Floral Pavilion for the festive period. A well-known panto that has been told in many ways and this is no different. We follow the Trott family who are poor and are trying to find the money to survive and pay the £1000 the King (Tom Sterling) tells them they need to pay. So, they must sell their beloved Sandra Bullock, The Cow (Amy Walker) at market. Along the way we are introduced to many characters, such as Flesh Creep (Joseph Elliot), The Vegetable Fairy (Hayley Tamaddon) and Princess Jill (Rachel Grundy). The Trott family are made up of Dame Trott played by Oliver Brooks, Simple Simon played by Sean Jones and the title character, Jack, played by the wonderful Joe Sleight. The set for Jack a...

Jack And The Beanstalk – Opera House, Manchester

8Dec

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Jack And The Beanstalk – Opera House, Manchester

Christmas is never complete without a token pantomime performance - and what better show to see to get you feeling Christmassy than Guy Unsworth’s dynamic and innovative reworking of Jack and the Beanstalk. Touted as “the second biggest show in Manchester”, this panto really did have it all - a star-studded cast, sensational sets, brilliant costumes, fabulous song and dance sequences, a script jam-packed full of witty repartee (and even a flying car, wholly reminiscent of theatre favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). What really brought this show to life was its exuberant characters - headlined by comedian Jason Manford, he was of course the titular character of Jack Trot, who not only had the lion’s share of the jokes but had some great musical numbers too. That said, every panto ...

Further Casting Announced for Manchester Panto

27Jul

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Further Casting Announced for Manchester Panto

Further casting has been announced for Jack and the Beanstalk at Manchester Opera House this Christmas. Multi-award-winning star of stage and screen Myra DuBois joins the cast as Mrs Blunderbore, Samara Casteallo returns for another year in the Opera House panto as The Spirit of the Beans, and West-End performer Emma Williams joins the cast as Princess Jill, running from Saturday 2nd – Sunday 31st December 2023. The news follows the earlier announcement that Comedy superstar Jason Manford will return to lead the cast in the title role of Jack, alongside returning Manchester panto favourite Ben Nickless as Silly Simon, seeing the dynamic duo come together for a second year by popular demand. The self-declared ‘Siren from South Yorkshire’, the larger-than-life Myra DuBois became a hou...

<strong>Jack and the Beanstalk – Hope Street Theatre</strong>

22Dec

By Donna M DayNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Hope Street Theatre

Jack and the Beanstalk is an all singing, all dancing pantomime, full of Scouse humour, original and fun musical numbers and all of the interactive jokes that make pantomime a great festive experience for all of the family. Written by Christopher Jones and directed by John Garfield-Roberts, assisted by Kazia Cannon, this is a great pantomime to introduce children to the theatre or continue an existing festive tradition with children who are already familiar with the annual showcases. The stage, with set design by Amy Le Dain, is outlined in bright green cheerful beanstalks and features a cute house that has been taken straight from a fairy tale. This is the home of Jack Trott (Joe Owens) and he, as Mother Nature (Lesley Butler) tells us, is the reluctant hero of our tale. Jack however ...

<strong>Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre</strong>

13Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Jack And The Beanstalk – Hull New Theatre

I hate audience participation of any kind but found myself “booing” at the top of my lungs within two minutes of Hull New Theatre’s pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk, starting. The object of my, and the rest of the fullish theatre’s vocal disapproval on Sunday evening, was Mrs Blunderbore (well done to local girl Chelsea Hall on a memorable panto debut), wife of the fearsome giant who lives at the top of the beanstalk. This age-old fairytale tells the story of simple farmers Jack Trot (Gareth Gates), his brother Silly Simon (Neil Hurst), their mum Dame Trot (Jack Land Noble), and Jack’s love interest Princess Jill (Allana Taylor). Under severe financial pressure and threats from the evil giant and Mrs Blunderbore, the Trots sadly decide to sell their cow Daisy - hopefully to a ki...

<strong>Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre</strong>

27Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Widely acknowledged as a staple part of the festive celebrations, pantomime has a long theatrical history in the UK, performed up and down the country during Christmas and New Year, with the expected, cookie cutter format, with singing, dancing, cross-dressing and slapstick humour, along with a healthy dose of topical references and audience participation. It’s not often you would describe a pantomime as quality theatrical production, they are usually lots of fun, something for the kids to enjoy, and a mixed bag of talent, but the creative team at the Lyric Hammersmith has raised the bar this year with this year's production, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, written by Jude Christian and Sonia Jalaly, and directed by Nicholai La Barrie. The team has kept all of the essential pantomime elements b...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Epstein Theatre

18Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Epstein Theatre

I was invited to watch the Easter pantomime at the Epstein Theatre last night, from the get-go it was full of energy, participation and pyrotechnics. Jack (Timothy Lucas) really fancied this girl called Jill (Maddie Hope Coelho) and wanted to ask her out. Jill invites Jack to her party but sadly he had school. However, she agrees to go to his school as long as he came to the party. All was not right in the land, as the Flesh Creep (Abigail Middleton) was tasked by the giant to capture the princess and something to eat. So, with this in mind she comes up with a dastardly plan to buy Jack’s old milk Cow Doddy. So that Jack could have the money to keep the farm his mum Dame Trott (Mark Two) and his brother Simple Simon (Lewis Devine) owns. Want to know more then you’ll have to see it, no spo...

Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium

25Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium

Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes today (25 February 2022) announced the return to the West End of The London Palladium Pantomime for a seventh year, with Dawn French and Julian Clary leading the cast in a brand-new production of Jack and the Beanstalk. For a strictly limited five-week run at The London Palladium, French and Clary will be joined by returning Palladium panto favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot. Dawn French said: “Roll up! Roll up! Much merriment and happiness and downright cheek and cheeks going to be happening onstage at The Palladium this Christmas with a brand spanky new Panto at last! We’ve waited two years to bring you Jack & The Beanstalk and I’m deblimminlighted to be part of it. See you there folks!” Michael Harrison,...

Jack and the Beanstalk – St Helens Theatre Royal

24Oct

By Anne PritchardNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – St Helens Theatre Royal

Christmas pantomimes at St Helens Theatre Royal are a traditional treat and now half-term pantos are a firm favourite as they coincide with local school holidays; children and families can attend a show and enjoy retro slapstick and sing along to musical chart hits whilst enjoying the dancing and singing on stage. As you walk into St Helens Theatre Royal, it’s rather like stepping back in time. The small, old- fashioned theatre entices theatregoers to buy sweets and ice cream from the kiosk and the corner counter is twinkling with fairy lights from the colourful swords and fairy wands it sells which all the children clamour to buy. The theatre was full, and all eyes were on the stage as youngsters with their parents and grandparents waited for the curtain to rise. When it did,...