Cast revealed for Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk

The festive season is almost upon us already and that can only mean one thing: panto time. Oh yes, it does - as the stars of this year’s Hunstanton pantomime have been revealed.

A well-known pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, will be returning after seven years to the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton, with a brand new cast who are excited to put on a show to wow the audience from December 2 all the way through until New Year's Day.

This year there will be a new dame in town to entertain the crowds.

Performing as Dame Trot will be Phil Hoyles who has played the part of dame in different pantos for 10 years, but this will be his first performance in Hunstanton.

Phil said: “There is nothing like playing a dame – everyone expects a panto dame.

“I think Dame Trot in Jack and the Beanstalk is great as there's a lot more visual things in the show, a lot more props like Daisy the cow, and there are a lot of comedy elements in this panto which I do love.

”There will be plenty of fun in store for the audiences to watch out for including Brussels sprout fights, custard pies, and Dame Trot on the hunt for a man. The cast starts rehearsals just seven days before the show leaving them little time to put the show all together.“

When we get into rehearsals it will be full on for the seven days – it is very intense,” Phil added.

“The first day of rehearsals will be when the cast members get to see each other properly and then we have to work with the director to pull it all together.”

Joining Phil is Felicity Cowell-Clark who is playing the role of Princess Jill.

Felicity is appearing at Hunstanton for a second time. She said she is “so excited” to get back into panto season, as she loves the “magic” which brings the Christmas spirit to people of all ages.

Felicity said: “I love walking on stage and seeing every single child's face light up. I love the fact that no matter who you are or where you go everyone comes out feeling that Christmas magic and I just think it is brilliant.”

This will be her second time in the role of a princess.

“Keep an eye out for Fleshcreep as she is a naughty one that villain,“ she added.

Emma Deborah Ward, who will be taking on that role, is no stranger to pantomimes but this year will be her first time playing a villain and she is looking forward to showing a different side.

She said: “This is my first time playing the villain I usually play the princess or the fairy, so I am really excited to show my wicked side.

"My favourite thing about being in a panto is the audience reactions, when you get a really excited audience who are really into it, we can really feed off that and it gives us that energy and excitement back again.”

Joining them is Sophia Green who will be playing Fairy Peasblossom.

This will be Sophia’s first time in a panto and she is very excited to get into the role.

“In this year's panto, I think there will be lots of laughs, lots of energy and really good crowds. I am really looking forward to it.”

To book tickets for this panto visit the Princess Theatre website at https://princesshunstanton.co.uk/ or call the box office at 01485 532252.

Alternatively, you can visit the box office at the venue located at 13 The Green in Hunstanton.