Jodie Jacobs stars in this year’s highly anticipated pantomime at Lyric Hammersmith, Jack and the Beanstalk, written by Jude Christian and Sonia Jalaly.
Nicholai La Barrie directs Emmanuel Akwafo playing Dame Trott, Maddison Bulleyment playing Jill, Jodie Jacobs playing Fleshcreep, Leah St Luce playing Jack and Finlay McGuigan playing Simon.
The production opens at Lyric Hammersmith on Saturday 26 November, with previews from Saturday 19 November, and runs until Saturday 07 January 2023.
You’re playing the villain in Jack and the Beanstalk at Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas, what can you tell us about this version of the classic Panto?
No spoilers! In the spirit of all Hammersmith pantos, its current yet classic, full of joy and possibly the funniest Panto I’ve ever rehearsed.
What do you enjoy most about working on family friendly shows over the festive season?
I love being part of a team whose sole purpose for the best part of 2 months is happiness. No tricks. No catches. Every year you get to create something purely for the love of laughs, songs and magic and cover it in glitter. Essential for the soul as the world gets trickier to negotiate.
And what do you find most challenging about getting a Panto up and running?
The time frame is TIGHT!! It leaves very little room for vulnerability. You have to just GO FOR IT. And be READY TO ADAPT! But that’s not bad at all. Just a challenge
You spent the Edinburgh Fringe playing another (not so obvious) villain, are these the kind of roles you can really get your teeth into?
Yeah, villains are quite new for me but I’m liking it so far! Fleshcreep is totally hapless so he’s less insidious than the meanies I played in Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder. Honestly, all characters offer a nice munch if you throw yourself in!!!
It sounds like Jack and the Beanstalk is going to be a lot of fun for audiences, how do you think you and the rest of the cast will keep it fun to perform too?
No stress there at all. I haven’t stopped laughing since we did the first read of the script, and it’s just got more and more riotous as we’re creating it.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk this year?
WHY ARE YOU STILL READING MY NONSENSE?? BOOK.BOOK.BOOK. GO. NOW. IMMEDIATELY. DONT THINK. JUST BOOK! THEN BOOK AGAIN ‘COS ITS SO GOOD YOU’LL WANNA SEE IT TWICE.
“I haven’t stopped laughing since we did the first read of the script, and it’s just got more and more riotous as we’re creating it”
