Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack & the Beanstalk a pantomime staged by St Pauls Players at Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, Adlington on Saturday, 3rd January 2026.

When you hear those four words ‘Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum’ ... you just know! This adaptation was penned by Alan P. Frayn and followed a very traditional narrative.  ‘Jack’, his brother ‘Simon’ and their widowed mother ‘Dame Dotty Dimple’, run a dairy business in ‘Windy Bottom’. The dairy isn’t doing very well, so they’re forced into selling their beloved cow, ‘Buttermilk’, in an effort to make ends meet. ‘Simon’ is the one tasked with taking ‘Buttermilk’ to market, because ‘Jack’ is pursuing his love interest with ‘Princess Charlotte’ the ‘Kings’ daughter! ‘Simon’ sells ‘Buttermilk’ for what he thinks is a bag of gold, which turns out to be a bag of beans, to the nasty pasty who is ‘Rancid the Ratman’. Rancid is in cahoots with ‘Piccalilli the Witch’ who works for the ‘Giant’. Princess Charlotte is kidnapped by Rancid and she and Buttermilk are taken to the Giant’s Castle where they both find themselves on the Giant’s dinner menu. Jack goes in pursuit and I think we all know the rest!   

Production Team... once again this panto was in the experienced hands of Graham Cohen (Director), Dax Owen (Production Co-ordinator), Kate Davies and May Upton (Choreographers) with Grace Brooke and Millie Wells (Dance Captains). Here at St Paul’s, standards are always high, the cast had no real weak links and the pantomime contained all the essential elements to make it a success... fun, laughter and audience involvement! Another permanent fixture here at St Paul’s is the ‘Youth Dancing Ensemble’ made up of young folk from different age groups and varying levels of ability. Dance routines are such, that no one is ever turned away... routines are set so that everyone has a chance to shine. What I liked this year, and it may have occurred before, but it was far more evident this year, as that in most dance routines, every level of age/ability danced some part of each song. The routines changed to accommodate age/ability levels, but what never changed was the standard.  The changes were seamless.... and from the smiles on the faces
of the forty odd youngsters involved ... it was obvious that they were all having the time of their
young lives ... be very proud Kate/May/Grace/Mille great job, great job everyone!    

The Cast .... it was an experienced principal cast that took to the stage, they all looked well-rehearsed and up for the challenges that lay ahead. They jelled together ever so well, creating this really slick pantomime.  The cast included... May Upton as ‘Jack’; Ryan Stanton as ‘Simple Simon’; Dax Owen - ‘Dame Dotty Dimple’; Imogen Bradley - ‘Fairy Stardust’; Siobhan Edge - Piccalilli the Witch’; Merrie Atherton - ‘Rancid’; Jamie Flavel - ‘King Crumble’; Jane McQueen - ‘Queen Apricot’; Dasy Jeffs - ‘Princess Charlotte’; & Garth Mabon & Mille Wells - Scarper and Snatchet respectively.  Dancers/Youth Ensemble ... (as previously stated, this young dance troupe looked so excited to be on stage doing their thing)... they included Frankie Topham, Martha Coleman, Matilda Pidd, Leah Stokes; Layla Roseden, Toby Barton, Jess Robinson, Nikkita McCarthy, Ameera Bakhit, Eli Latham, Tilly Steele-Moon, Lottie Duncan, Connie Upton, Evie Dunn, Fraya Potter, Lotta Harris, Lilah Philpott, Esme Potter, Grace Brooke, Mabel McQueen, Jake Newns, Felicity Garth, Millie Brooke, Melodie Robinson, Isabelle Towner, Scarlet Porter, Layla Young, Ariana Chapplehow, Juliet Flavel, Olivia Chapman, Aveana Rothwell, Tilly Coleman, Penelope Upton, , Maggie Williams, Poppy Taylor, Izaac Latham, Coco Culshaw,
Ava Mae Barnes, Edie Philpott, Ella Rodriguez, Violet Hodge and Bella Owen (hope I’ve not missed anyone out!).  As is the ‘norm’... I’m going to select a ‘Show Stealer’ and a couple of favourites... MY favourites, you’ll know doubt have your own, but these are mine... ‘Show Stealer’ I’m plumping for Ryan Stanton. Ryan was the perfect fit for the role of ‘Simple Simon’. From first entrance to last, Ryan just lived this part! Loved the way he got ‘straight into the audience’. Interaction with an audience with this type of panto role is a necessity and Ryan made that connection with effortless ease! Wonderful stage presence, great comic timing, worked well with the Dame and all the cast really... great job Ryan, be proud sir! Dex Owen took on the role of ‘Dame Dotty Dimple’. Dex is no stranger to ‘donning the frock’ in panto! Just love the way he plays the Dame character, loud, I think it’s a love hate relationship he has with his audience, I think they love him and he hates them, only kidding... I think ahaha! Loved the way he walked on stage, didn’t get the response he wanted and walked off in disgust...... “TRY IT AGAIN”! He’s not always sure of his lines, but he uses that to create humour and it works, people just love it, another great role Dex... keep going sir! Cheating I suppose, but I really can’t leave these out of MY favourites ... the YOUNG DANCERS... honestly, they gave us their all and enhanced this panto ever so much!  Favourite dance and I can’t remember which song it was danced to... but the dancers were dressed in ‘all green costumes’... the choreo was amazing and danced to perfection... well done younguns!  Please, if I haven’t highlighted you as a ‘favourite’ ... don’t assume you haven’t been noticed... this was a panto where each and every one had a part to play which you all did, with great aplomb, be ever so proud!

Staging/Tech ... it always amazes me how the ‘stage crew’ get so much on and so much off without it looking difficult or messy!  They don’t have the biggest of stage space nor wing space, but scenery comes on, scenery goes off, more scenery comes on... where does it all come from? It’s done with effortless ease, with minimal noise or fuss by a truly dedicated bunch of ‘stage professionals’ led by Jill Heeks (Stage Manager), Richard Houghton/Alan Leyland (Ass Stage Managers) and their stage crew... Stephen Pilkington, Vincent Taylor, Barry Heeks, David Worsley, Kamil Kupniewki and Paul Stanley, not forgetting their ‘Scenic Artist’ Howard Bates. Be proud folks’ great job as always! Sound and Lighting was in the ever so safe hands of Natalie Sweet, Joanna Sweet and Richard Cornes (Sound) and Stuart Naylor (Lighting)... well done folks, in awe as always!  

Costumes... principal costumes were excellent, of the era and enhanced the show ever so much as were the many costumes used for the many dance routines danced by the youth dancers which were quality, quality, quality and under the watchful eye of Jen Upton, Lisa Cohen, Judith Armstrong and Jane McQueen! ‘Props’, as with the costumes, were excellent, sourced and used well and looked after by Becca and Georgia Hilton and Sue Heyes.

Chaperones ... being a ‘licenced chaperone’ myself, I know the time, effort and dedication you need to make to allow these amazing youngsters the chance to perform, develop life skills and make friends that they will probably have for the rest of their lives ... you aren’t named in the programme, but you know who you are... THANK YOU for you dedication ... it really does mean
so much, to so many!

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I to your pantomime, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and if the reaction from your audience throughout and at the finale and bows was anything to go by, enjoyed by everyone present.  Thank you again.... already looking forward to seeing you all again for Rent!

Stay Safe, Keep well
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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