Jack and the Beanstalk (Poole)

This timeless, family friendly story, with everyone's favourite, pantomime characters, tells a spell-binding tale of the hapless Jack Trott (Debra Stephenson of Coronation Street fame). When the Giant's villainous tax collector Fleshcreep (the wonderful, Patrick O'Kane ) demands more money, Jack has to sell the family's beloved cow, Daisy, for a bag of gold … that turns out to be magic beans! The rest, as they say …

Director/scriptwriter, the incomparable Tom Bright, as the marvellous Dame Trott, commands the stage and has us rolling in the aisles with 'her' witty one-liners and flirty jokes. Bright's dame is complemented by Simple Simon, the hilarious Dan Looney, who falls in love with the beautiful Princess (Natalie Bush).

With the help of crazy fairy Bow Bells (Joanne Darby) and some nifty on-stage flying, Jack climbs the beanstalk for his scary confrontation with the Giant.

Senior and Junior chorus members sing and dance to well choreographed routines throughout this enchanting, magical evening. Junior Red Team member Ellie Hewtin gives a superb performance. She is a little star in the making.

It`s a fast moving show with loads of audience participation, and the cast seem to enjoy
themselves as much as the audience .Children, parents and grandparents alike are laughing, booing, cheering and shouting themselves hoarse, from start to finish. This sparkling show oozes panto fun.

But panto goers … be warned! It can get very wet in the front row!!!!! “Oh yes it can”….

Jack and the Beanstalk plays at Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts until 5 January 2014

– Vera Newsham