The Joy of Panto!

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Talisman Theatre. Photo by Robert Warner.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Stephen Duckham at the Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Friday 20 December 2024 – Saturday 4 January 2025. Directed by Gill Halford.

Review  by Ashley Hayward

One of the joys of watching a panto is seeing entire families all joining in the fun together and at this year’s offering from the Talisman I witnessed children, parents, grannies and grandads enthusiastically laughing, shouting, clapping and dancing throughout the performance before delivering a terrific ovation at the end.

The reception was well deserved as the cast and crew delivered a production full of colour, tuneful singing, excellent choreography, clever special effects, imaginative sets and outrageous costumes.

Ellie Chapman as Fairy Greenbean. Photo by Robert Warner.

There were many outstanding individual performances from the talented cast. Ellie Chapman was excellent as Fairy Greenbean with her rural West Country accent. She was ably assisted by her pet carrot (!) ‘Kevin’ in her efforts to weave her magic and help Jack overcome the wicked Giant Blunderbore and his dastardly assistant with the appropriate name of ‘Slime’.

Robert Jones as Slime. Photo by Robert Warner.

Harry Bowser played the Giant who we didn’t get to meet until the second act but had already treated us to some pretty powerful ‘fee-fi-fo-fums’ whilst Robert Jones as Slime was everything you expect from a pantomime villain and seemed to relish the boos and hisses he was receiving from the enthusiastic audience.

Every panto needs a Dame and here Alistair Jolliffe did the considerable honours as Tillamina Trot, the mother of Jack. He has certainly mastered the tricky art of audience participation and played a character as flamboyant as his costumes.

Alistair Jolliffe as Dame Tillamina Trot. Photo by Robert Warner.

Kevin Wing gave a warm-hearted performance as the likeable Jack Trot and formed a lovely partnership with Miranda (Phoebe Dann) who was the love of his life.

In order to marry the delightful Miranda, Jack needed to get approval from her Mother, the upwardly socially mobile Baroness Betina Beetroot (be careful how you pronounce that as she can get very touchy about it!). Amanda Wright is outstanding as the Baroness and her rendition of ‘Anything you can do’ with the Dame was one of the highlights of the evening.

Kevin Wing as Jack Trot and Phoebe Dann as Miranda. Photo By Robert Warner.

Sean Noon’s performance as the simple and accident prone Tommy Trot certainly went down well with the audience and he formed a delightful partnership with the immensely likeable Harriet (Amy Jolliffe) whose singing ability and harp playing had saved her from becoming the Giant’s dessert!

Amy Jolliffe as Harriet and Rosemary Gowers as Buttercup the cow. Photo by Robert Warner.

Finally, full marks must be awarded to Rosemary Gowers who played Buttercup, the gifted tap- dancing pantomime cow who certainly won the hearts of the young people sitting around me.

Under the direction of Gill Halford this pantomime splendidly contained all the ingredients that audiences traditionally expect – slapstick, thigh slapping, local references, corny jokes and puns – they were all there in abundance.

The Dame in a clinch with the Baroness (Amanda Wright). Photo by Robert Warner.

I understand the complete run of the show is now pretty much a sell out and I doubt very much that any of those lucky enough to get tickets will be disappointed.

NB A special ‘relaxed’ performance is being offered for the first time in order to create an inclusive and comfortable theatre experience for neurodiverse families. This will take place at 2.30 pm on 1st January 2025 and tickets are still available

Details and tickets for the relaxed performance: https://talismantheatre.co.uk/