Panto lovers are urged to get their tickets early for this year’s fabulous performance of Jack & The Beanstalk, at Harrogate Theatres.
The traditional show, which is already selling fast, runs from Friday, November 23 to Sunday, January 13.
With less than three months to go , the Jack & The Beanstalk script is still being tweaked, set design prepped, costume ideas sketched – but the cast is confirmed.
Returning for his 13th Harrogate Theatres panto, daft hero of the main house stage Tim Stedman plays Simple Simon. Eagle-eyed Stedman fans will have this year spotted him in commercial TV adverts for Kwikfit and Go Compare, but it’s in the role of pea-brained panto protagonist sidekick that he really shines, meaning the number 13 is far from unlucky for our panto crowd.
Stedman isn’t the only familiar face. Following on from her successful debut as Belle in last year’s acclaimed production of Beauty & The Beast, Katy Dean returns to take the principal role of Jack. Dean comes to Harrogate Theatres fresh from the West End run of Blood Brothers.
Dean is joined by her fellow Blood Brothers cast member, Philip Stewart, who takes the role of Fleshcreep, the Giant’s henchman and Jack’s nemesis.
With Howard Chadwick all tied up in Northern Broadsides’ social comedy A Government Inspector, this year sees a brand new Dame. Chris Clarkson takes to the stage as Dame Trott, Jack’s long-suffering mother. As well as myriad touring theatre credits, including time withOddsocks and a host of pantomimes all over the country, Clarkson is a guest presenter on BBC’s The One Show and has appeared elsewhere on TV in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, A Touch Of Frost and Crimewatch, among others. Fact fans will enjoy knowing that Clarkson is a former world champion living statue.
Polly Lister, a Harrogate Theatres panto regular, is back as the Fairy, and local lad David Kendra takes the role of the King.
Phil Lowe returns for his sixth year as director. Lowe has once again co-written the pantomime with Harrogate Theatre’s Chief Executive David Bown. Bown has been an actor, writer and director in theatre and television in the UK and the US.
You may have noticed very little mention of the Giant. Just how this enormous role is to be brought to the Harrogate Theatre stage is being kept under wraps for now but promises to be a gasp-inducing bit of theatre wizardry.
Join daydreaming Jack on his coming-of-age adventure up the beanstalk to an enchanted land in the clouds, from where he must rescue his friends from a very hungry giant.
Tickets can be booked securely online at www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk or through the Harrogate Theatre Box Office on 01423 502 116.
Please Spread The Pickled Eggs!