[Ad-gifted] Friday was not only Panto Day but it was also the opening night of the classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk at The Regent Theatre and what a night it was. Oh Yes it Was!
We were blown away by the 3D special animation, fantastic singing and non-stop banter and slapstick jokes which kept all of us, young and old entertained.
Every year we walk into the Regent Theatre wondering if Jonny Wilkes and his team would be able to outdo last year’s performance and every year we leave wondering how on earth did they do that. There was never a dull moment with the crowd waiting to shout back “Ay up, Jack!” every time Jonny came on stage. To top it all it is Jonny’s 19th season at the Regent.
Presented by Crossroads Pantomimes, this year Jonny Wilkes play Jack Trot and is joined by none other than Kai Owen who plays Jack’s dad, Farmer Trot and kept the audience in stitches as well as ex-Hear’Say band member Noel Sullivan who plays this year’s evil baddie, Fleshcreep.
Both Farmer Trot and his son Jack are forced to sell their favourite cow Daisy to make up for hard times, but Fleshcreep has a sinister plan to turn Daisy into a steak for his master, the “Giant of the City of Clouds and Stars”. When Jack and Princess Jill (played by Michelle Andrews find out, they decide to climb the beanstalk to save Daisy. But will they be able to do it without waking up the Giant?
What did we think about Jack and the Beanstalk?
What makes heading to the panto at Regent so special is knowing that each of the cast make it their mission to elevate the people and city of Stoke-on-Trent and make every audience member proud to be a Stokie.
There were lots of adult humour cleverly hidden in between the script (which younger kids won’t pick up) but since both our children are getting older, they are slowly beginning to understand the jokes as we see little smirks on their faces.
Expect a lot of popular songs which you can sing to and some new Stoke-themed ones written specially for the panto. Our highlight had to be the 3D animation sequence which we totally enjoyed, kids had been waiting to wear the 3D glasses and loved every minute of the whole experience and were glued to their seats in excitement.
Noel Sullivan the ex-member of the British pop group, Hear’Say plays Fleshcreep exceptionally well. He has such an amazing and soulful singing voice and the crowd enjoyed booing him every time he came on stage.
Kai Owen on the other hand is super talented, we always enjoy his comedy factor but were even more impressed this year with his musicality in his Stoke-inspired tongue-twisting song which was just hilarious.
Rio Maye, plays The Spirit of the Beans so beautifully, her character mesmerised little ones and she acted as a magical guide who helped tell the story.
My children wondered why Jack’s dad was featured in the panto instead of his mum and mentioned that a Dame would have made the panto even better. We also noticed that the usual Twelve Days of Christmas routine which we love was replaced by Jonny, Kai, Noel and Michelle singing a song and then acting out what their jobs would be if “they were not an actor in the pantomime” which was equally hilarious and left everyone in stitches.
Written by Alan McHugh, the play is both funny and entertaining. The scenes in both the acts are set in various places such the Panto Kingdom of Stoke, The Village, Market Fair Farmer Trot’s Cottage, Up the Beanstalk, In the city of Clouds amongst others. The scene change was done flawlessly with the coordination of the lighting done masterfully to help create the mood . Special shout out also goes out to the band for their excellent sound effects and excellent timing.
Remember to grab a copy of the theatre programme booklet so you have all the details of the cast, crew and schedule of the show. Children would also love the pull-out activity programme which is filled with pantomime puzzles, colouring activities as well as crosswords. There is also a 2-page write up which shares the production process involved from writing a panto to bringing it on stage.
Praise goes to James Bennett, the choreographer as the ensemble from Wilkes Academy did a magnificent job is executing each dance routine.
So book your tickets if you want to experience a magical adventure and hilarious comedy which the whole family would enjoy. I promise you, you will walk out of the theatre singing We Love This City of Stoke-on-Trent to the tune of “We Built This City”.
Cast Details
Jonathan Wilkes – Jack Trot
Noel Sullivan -Fleshcreep
Kai Owen – Farmer Trot
Rio Maye – The Spirit of the Beans
Michelle Andrews – Princess Jill
Ensemble
Marlee Ferguson
Aimee Greensill
Phoebe Greensill
Ruby Hood
Harvey Shulver
Elle Taylor
Jack Walker
Steven Woods
Band
Musical Director/Keyboards – Aaron Nice
Bass Guitar – Glenn Muscroft
Drums/Percussion – Brian Costello
Cover Musical Director – Barney Ashworth
How much do the tickets cost?
Tickets are priced from £13 to £68.50.
How do I book tickets to watch Jack and the Beanstalk?
Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or by visiting ATG’s website here.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
The show will run until Saturday, 7 January 2024. Evening shows will be at 5pm and 7pm with morning shows at 11am and matinee shows at 1pm/2pm on certain days. Do visit their website for the exact timing.
Where is The Regent Theatre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent?
Piccadilly
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 1AP
Tel: 08448717649
About Regent Theatre
The Regent Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Constructed in 1929 as a cinema, it is one of several theatres in the city centre and one of two owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. The building was converted for full-time use as a theatre in 1999, and since then has hosted a number of shows and musicals. The theatre is also the northern base for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Tips / Information
- Masks and Covid passes are not mandatory in the Theatre at the moment
- Ample public car park spaces are available near to the Regent Theatre. The nearby John Street car park is the closest while the Pottery Centre carpark charges a fixed rate of £1.50 (after 4pm)
- Accessibility: On arrival at the theatre there are nine steps leading from the front doors to the foyer. There is a small lift suitable for wheelchairs and buggies
- There is lift access to all levels from the foyer (with an audible announcer)
- There is an infra-red sound enhancement system in the auditorium
- Guide, hearing and other working dogs are welcome in all parts of the theatre, and water is provided for them on request
- Accessible toilets are available
You may also want to read this:
Review: The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan at Regent Theatre
Review: Cinderella at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent
Review: Robin Hood at Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent
Review: Sleeping Beauty Panto at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent
It’s panto season and we have seen Aladdin – Oh yes we have!
Photo Credit: Regent Theatre/Clara Lou Photography
32 comments
There is nothing better than a good panto at Christmas, it is a tradition we did when I was growing up, Jack and the Beanstalk is one of my favourites
How lovely and yes such a great tradition to have
Jack and the Beanstalk is one of my all-time favorite fairy tales. I’d love to see this stage version. The costumes look amazing!
So glad to hear that, yes the costumes were eye-catching
jack and the beanstalk is a classic story. And the production looks like great fun and very lively too, especially for the children.
Agree, both my kids enjoyed watching the panto this year
Live performances are a treat to watch. Love the images of Jack and the Beanstalk show.
They sure are, the costumes were stunning as well
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a panto production, but they’re always loads of fun. I think all parents and adults appreciate the suitable humour that they can enjoy x
Definitely a great family themed entertainment show which gets us all ready for Christmas
I’m sure this Jack and the Beanstalk is a fantastic show to watch. Live performances are different.
I agree, nothing like watching the show live
Your blog post about the 3D special animation, fantastic singing, and lively banter at the Regent Theatre left me intrigued and excited. It’s wonderful to hear about the consistently outstanding performances by Jonny Wilkes and his team, leaving both young and old thoroughly entertained. The anticipation and amazement you describe, wondering if they can outdo themselves each year, add an extra layer of excitement.
Thank you, we love it at the Regent and go back every year to watch it
That’s a show I’ve not seen in ages!! How fun to see it live action though! I love the colourful costumes…all these plays you share about look like so much fun!
Yes it was such fun and we totally loved watching it
I do love this as a Panto. It can be so much fun. It sounds like you had the most amazing time there. I’m glad you found it both funny and entertaining.
Thank you, oh yes we did have an amazing time at the panto
The 3D animation, fantastic singing, and banter sound like the perfect recipe for a night of laughter and joy.
We thoroughly enjoyed the panto evening and this is a show worth watching again
I love going to the pantomime at this time of year, it sounds like a must-see show in Stoke!
It absolutely is
Jack and the Beanstalk are my favourites. This looks like a fun show to watch with family.
It absolutely was super fun and festive
I love a good panto and Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic. The 3D element sounds interesting and lots of fun.
The 3D element is something we all really enjoyed
I do enjoy plays that have a bit of adult humor thrown in there! The 3D element sounds really unique- thank you for sharing your review.
You are welcome and hope you get to see this panto
This looks like so much fun, can’t beat live theatre and great for all the family – what a festive treat
Laura x
Indeed, thank you Laura
Jack and the beanstalk is such a classic!! Hoping we can see some shows this new year 🙂
Hope you got to see it