It wouldn’t be Christmas without Oxford Playhouse’s legendary traditional family panto and this year’s fun filled favourite is the much-loved classic fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk.

Get into the festive spirit with this perfect Christmas cracker. Written by Jack Counsel and directed by Toby Hulse, this Oxford Playhouse production opens on Friday 24 November 2023 and runs until Sunday 7 January 2024.

Poor hapless Jack can’t seem to help getting into trouble with his mum. Now he’s really landed himself in it by selling the family cow to a stranger for a handful of old beans. But hang on a minute, those mysterious beans are really magic beans and when Jack plants them a beanstalk starts to grow and grow and GROW!!

Join Jack and his friends on an adventure of a lifetime in this magical show, as they scale the beanstalk and take on a Giant in this laugh out loud dazzling production for all the family.

Expect lots of laughter and slap stick comedy, outrageous costumes and toe-tapping, sing-along songs and as is traditional plenty of chances to cheer for the goodies and boo and hiss at the baddies.

The brilliantly versatile cast features Madison Swan as Fairy Foxglove, Dumile Sibanda as Jill, and Max Guest in the title role as Jack Dairy.

After making audiences laugh and boo as Bellina in last year’s pantomime Cinderella, Alasdair Buchan returns to The Playhouse as this year’s dame, Mary from the Dairy. Joining them and taking on many forms as the Fairy in last year’s Playhouse pantomime, Robin Hemmings returns as Hendrix the Horrible.

Other cast members include Heather Porte as Susan and Harry Jack who makes up the Ensemble alongside this year’s Dance Captain Mared Lewis. The cast is also supported by two brilliant young companies, featuring local performers aged between 11 to 15 years who auditioned for a place to support the professional cast.

Jack & The Beanstalk is directed by Toby Hulse, with set & costume design by Anthony Lamble, and associate costume design by Ani Stafford-Townsend and Immy Howard. Steve Allan Jones is the composer and arranger with Darren Reeves as music consultant. Rae Piper and Paul Chantry from Chantry Dance Company join Oxford Playhouse for the first time as show choreographers.

Don’t miss your chance to see this magical show that is full of beans!