Jack and the Beanstalk – A sky high adventure

Fe-fi-fo-fum, Theatre Royal Winchester presents a pantomime that is full of beans this Christmas. Jack and the Beanstalk, opening on 6th December, is a traditional family pantomime full of larger-than-life characters, original music, audience participation, jokes and special effects.

The well-loved tale of adventure at the top of a giant beanstalk brings together writer and director Jamie Barry with a cast of seven professional actors and a child cast of talented dancers for a tale of magic, mayhem and mischief.

Children will recognise actor and presenter Phil Gallagher, the star of CBeebies Mister Maker, who returns to play Jack’s brother Silly Billy. Also returning is audience favourite Clive Flint, playing the dame for the third consecutive year and Jack Corcoran, last year’s Abanazer in Aladdin, who returns to play the King.

The pantomime, sponsored by Thornfield Properties, follows the traditional storyline of the poor peasant boy Jack, who takes his only cow to market and exchanges her for some magic beans. When his mother throws the beans out of the window in frustration, by morning, a giant beanstalk has grown. Writer James Barry explains, “This is a brilliant story, perfect for panto, with a fantasy world at the top of the beanstalk, a giant’s castle, an evil giant and his even more evil wife. There will plenty of scope for hissing and booing, suspense and magic intervention. All ages will be entertained by this rip-roaring tale.”

Chief Executive Fiona Burn, commented, “This year we aim to surpass our previous pantomimes with an ambitious production in terms of set design, special effects and choreography, but without losing any of the traditional elements of family panto.”

For the second year running, the production includes a child cast of eighteen local girls aged between 12 and 16 who will rotate in performance in three casts of six. The choreography is the task of dance school director Sally Stanyard.

The theatre has been presented with a number of technical and acting challenges to bring the beanstalk and the giant to the stage. Fiona Burn concludes, “If you want to know how we did it, you will just have to come and see the show. It is quite something to behold and we know audiences will love it!”

Jack and the Beanstalk is playing at Theatre Royal Winchester from 6 December 2007 to 2 January 2008. Ticket prices vary. For more information or to book tickets visit Theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk. Please note that card bookings are subject to a transaction fee.