First look production images are released for Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper!, a profoundly silly and staggeringly naughty adult pantomime by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, with songs by Jon Bradfield, directed by Andrew Beckett, runs at Charing Cross Theatre, 23 November 2024 to 11 January.
It follows last year’s Sleeping Beauty Takes A Prick! that smashed box office records selling 14,000 tickets to take the crown as London’s biggest adults only pantomime.
The Cast is; Matthew Baldwin as Dame Dolly Trott, Chris Lane as Dale the friendly fairy and Jordan Stamatiadis as lascivious evil landowner Lady Fleshcreep, Laura Anna-Mead (Simple Simone), Keanu Adolphus Johnson (Jack Trott), Laura Buhagiar (ensemble)
Joe Grundy (Reverend Tim), Caitlin Swanton (ensemble), Fin Walton (ensemble), Dame Dora Herd (Claudia the Cow).
Dame Dolly Trott was the matriarch of a rural soap opera for 20 years until scandal and swindle finished her career and her fortune, leaving her to eke out a life on her son’s dilapidated dairy farm. Jack Trott is poor, gay and very horny, living 10 miles from the nearest Grindr user in the quaint Yorkshire Village of Upper Bottom. Join him on his hilarious quest to find something truly giant…
With outrageous songs, fabulous designs, glittering choreography and more innuendos than you can swallow, Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper!, by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, promises to be London’s wildest pantomime, and an unforgettably queer night out. Expect all the fun of traditional panto – just not for all the family!
Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper! is written by Jon Bradfeld and Martin Hooper with songs by Bradfield, and directed by Andrew Beckett. Sets are by David Shields, who won Best Set Design at this year’s national Panto Awards for his spectacular Snow White at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, and whose recent work includes Heathers (West End, The Other Palace and tour), Rose (Hope Mill, Park Theatre and West End) and The Fabulist and Pippin (Charing Cross).
Baldwin, Beckett, Bradfield, Hooper and Shields were behind the string of acclaimed gay pantomimes at the now-closed Above The Stag Theatre. Bradfield says, “Working with this lovely, funny family of
collaborators is the privilege of my life, as is knowing that our shows have become an unmissable annual festive tradition for many people. We started working together in the smallest of theatres and last year it was a thrill to discover there’s a bigger audience out there for our brand of big-hearted, sophisticated smut.”
Creative team:
Writers Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, Composer & Lyricist Jon Bradfield, Director Andrew Beckett, Choreographer Carole Todd, Musical Director & Orchestrator Aaron Clingham, Set Designer
David Shields, Costume Designers Robert Draper & Sandy Lloyd, Sound Designer Andrew Johnson, Lighting Designer Matt Hockley, Producer Oli Sones for He’s Behind You!, Executive Producer
Investors in Theatre, Casting by Laura Seaborn for Harry Blumenau Casting CDG.
