Cornwall lands big win on national stage as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins 3 awards.

 

After a decade of support for artists and creatives in the region, Hall for Cornwall today celebrate awards success as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and its creator, Cornishman Jethro Compton, scooped 3 gongs at the Olivier Awards in London last night, including Best New Musical.

Commenting on the news, Creative Director and CEO at HfC, Julien Boast, said

“Congratulations to Jethro Compton and the Benjamin Button team. This is a huge win for the creative community in Cornwall and for a great HfC friend”. 

Hall for Cornwall provides support and opportunities for 400 Cornwall-based artists every year. In 2025 this has included working with o-region to present a near sell-out run of their Michael Morpurgo adaption The White Horse at The Regal in Redruth, whilst providing space for musician Matthew Thomason to develop new Cornish language work inspired by Tennyson’s The Lady Of Shalott. Speaking about the importance of supporting artists in Cornwall, Julien Boast said

“We live in uncertain times, and forging new work is tough. By galvanising artists through support and partnerships, our Husa Artist Development programmes enable shining stars of our creative sector like Jethro, and so many others, to make a sizeable impact on the life and economy of Cornwall.”

Underlining the wider benefits of such headline news, Boast continued

“I believe this win will be an inspiration to emerging and young Cornish artists: getting new work made can be a long road, but we’re here for you every step of the way, thanks to a passionate team and the vital support of our funders, donors and sponsors.

In 2017, Jethro Compton received seed funding for developing ‘The Cornwall Musical’ (Benjamin Button’s working title) through HfC’s Creation Space programme before receiving mentoring and support from the HfC team over a number of years. Paying tribute in his acceptance speech, Jethro Compton said

“Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey over the last eight years…thank you to Hall for Cornwall”.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is currently playing at Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End.

In a continued push to unearth new Cornish musical theatre talent, HfC will this summer partner with Falmouth University on an intensive summer school for 11-18 year-olds culminating in a production of Disney’s Newsies Jr.

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

At a time when Cornwall is brimming with creative talent, we’re focusing a light on artists, makers, practitioners and teachers – a few of the people we see doing incredible things in our region. What better day to start sharing these than today, on World Theatre Day.

HfC is here for everyone in Cornwall, and our sector is a big part of that. Through our Husa programme HfC provides support, workspace, talent development and career pathways for more than 400 Cornwall- based artists and sector colleagues.

Together, we’re ensuring Cornwall’s reputation as a dynamo for innovative creative enterprises continues through future generations.

First up, we’re celebrating James D’Arcy, who juggles work in the HfC Get Creative team alongside duties as Assistant Director on our Cornwall Playhouse Productions and is a passionate practitioner whose infectious energy will be well known by so many young people in the region!

Originally from Towcester, James ran away to Cornwall nearly a decade ago to study Acting at Falmouth University, a world he credits for laying the stepping stones to his work with youth and community groups at HfC.

We asked James a few questions about his work and what creativity means to him…

What do you do at HfC? 

It feels like there is barely a department in the theatre I haven’t touched!

Most of my time is taken by the Get Creative Department, a small and mighty team of people doing the most wonderful things.

One of my most enjoyable roles is in directing and facilitating our Youth Theatre & Young Company, helping to produce their shows and trying to show them how to play and become confident in themselves and their abilities, so I’ve always got at least 4 plays going on at a time! And during the latter part of the year I’ve been working as Assistant Director on Cornwall Playhouse Productions’ Christmas Shows!

Around that I’m involved with our School, Community & Artist Development (HUSA) programs- so often get bused all over Cornwall for workshops, groups & school productions, and help facilitate our Schools & Community showcases on the main stage, running backstage to help hundreds of young people perform on the stage for the first time. New Artist Network & Community Club Groups- and look forward to starting up Next Stage our new theatre group for the over 60s- in the coming months!

The other major part of my days is spent working at the Stage Door & Husa Reception – the nerve centre of day-to-day operations at our base in Truro, which in itself is 1000 tiny jobs and systems, from general enquiries to. It’s been amazing to see how the theatre has grown into a brand-new self since we reopened back in 2021. It’s a tight ship and I’m in awe of all the talent off stage and on that walk through the doors every day!

So, I do all of that… and then just a casual bit of:

Follow spotting, heritage touring, costume and props making, furniture building, sign & poster designing, education conferencing, lead chaperoning, RSC ambassadoring, first aiding, parading, furniture moving, tannoy voicing, lost property sorting, room & event booking, floor mopping…

Simple job, really!

What is it that you love most about theatre?

I love stories, in all forms. The way there are infinite possibilities for what stories you tell and how you tell them. I like the way theatre can bring out almost any emotion in people, from playful joy to heartache. I like seeing people work together to create something from nothing.

I was set in my head from swapping my degree from Acting to TV & Film, but we had this amazing 111 years of theatre history lecture series in my first semester that got me hooked on all the things theatre can be, weird, wonderful, classic, and dramatic. There is something for everyone – on and off stage.

Why does creativity matter?

I think taking part in creative activities at any age is important. It’s the gateway to understanding and surviving in this world.

Through my life I have seen countless times people using the arts and creative outlets as a lifeline, it helps people cope, it helps people grow and it helps people thrive. Simple as that.

FROM OUR FRIENDS (TREVIGLAS)…

A huge HfC congratulations to our partner school, Treviglas Academy

Join us in sending our congratulations to Treviglas Academy, who have been announced as winner of the Outstanding Drama Department Award at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2025.

Treviglas are the Lead Associate School in a partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and Hall for Cornwall. The Associate Schools Programme includes primary and secondary schools from across Cornwall and creates opportunities for young people to experience the magic of the theatre, through exploration of Shakespeare, no matter where they might be in the county. Treviglas are also part of HfC’s own Schools Partnership Programme,

Sam Colborne, Treviglas’ Creative Arts Programme Lead, has said, “We are delighted to have received this national award, and want to thank Hall for Cornwall, and the Get Creative Team in particular, for the many opportunities our working together has created for Treviglas’ students and staff. Our students have unparalleled access to theatre and theatre practitioners because of Hall for Cornwall’s support.”

As part of their relationship with Hall for Cornwall, Treviglas ensure all their Year 7 pupils get to experience live theatre by taking them along to see the Cornwall Playhouse Productions Christmas Show every year. Additionally, Hall for Cornwall put on an annual RSC Associate Schools Showcase, where Associate Schools are given the chance to perform on the Cornwall Playhouse stage. This year’s showcase is set for June 17, and we’d love for you to come along and see the students’ hard work come to fruition live on stage. Watch this space, as this event will be available to book soon.

Sally Knight is joining the HfC team to strengthen our youth and talent programmes.

We’re delighted to announced the appointment of Sally Knight as Get Creative Manager. Sally joins an established team, working under the Get Creative banner, who deliver all of HfC’s youth, career, community and talent development programmes.

Covering the length & breadth of Cornwall, the ambitious team already deliver projects that engage over 11,000 young people, 3,000 community participants and a network of more than 400 artists. Sharing a restless curiosity and desire to reach more people, HfC are excited to bring Sally in to manage the team. Before joining HfC, Sally Knight became an influential voice in Cornwall’s cultural sector through her Cscape dance company.

HfC Chief Executive and Creative Director Julien Boast commented “We’re thrilled to be bringing such a dynamic and experienced person in to drive the Get Creative programme. Sally’s track-record engaging our community in cultural activities is so strong. Her appointment today is a vital step forwards for culture in our region, enabling us to continue nurturing artists and investing in the potential of young people, schools cultural provision and community engagement in Cornwall.”

Sally Knight commented “I am absolutely delighted to be joining HfC to champion the arts, develop and deliver inspirational work. HfC is a thriving hub of creativity with an energy and vision which reaches way beyond the walls of the building, and I am honoured to be joining as the Get Creative Manger. I’m committed to ensuring everyone in Cornwall has access to great art, performance and culture and can’t wait to get started.”

Philip Butterworth, Relationship Manager, Touring, South West, Arts Council England, who was a member of the appointment panel, added “I’m pleased to have seen such a strong pool of candidates for this key role. I look forward to working with Sally and the wider Hall for Cornwall team to support the programme dedicated to championing talent in the subregion, and which will have a significant contribution in achieving Let’s Create.”

Sally has a number of projects in the pipeline, so will start part time before Christmas and transition to full time over the coming months. Join us in celebrating this news, as a local Cornish artist joins our management team to continue to drive HfC forwards.

As Jack And The Beanstalk lands in the Cornwall Playhouse for Christmas 2024, HfC Deputy Theatre Manager Jack Morrison shines a light on Cornwall’s longstanding love affair with the lore of giants.

As Christmas peeps its sparkly head round the corner we’re looking forwards to one of your festive highlights: a charming retelling of Jack And The Beanstalk, produced by Cornwall Playhouse Productions at Hall for Cornwall and starring Cornwall legend Edward Rowe/Kernow King as Dame Trott. Of course, this tale of magic beanstalks is a classic from the English fairy story cannon, but did you know that Cornwall’s fascination runs much deeper, with local tales of giants stretching back over a thousand years. In fact, Jack and the Beanstalk continues a tradition of Giant storytelling that goes back millennia, giving Cornwall the ancient title ‘Land Of Giants’.  

Giants you say? Let’s find out more… 

While stories of giants are not unique to Cornwall, they’re a significant element of Celtic and Cornish mythology, fitting snuggly with legends from Wales, Brittany, Ireland and Scotland.  

Giants also occupy a central role in Norse mythology, where they are key figures in the cosmic battles with the gods.   

Today, when giants are mentioned in Cornwall, it’s probably surface level, with a knowing wink. But dig a bit deeper and a collection of colossal characters await our discovery. Suddenly, ancient names trip across the tongue – Blunderbuss, Cormoran, Blunderbore, Rebecks, Cormilan, Bedruthan, Cormelian, Trecobben, Bolster or Gogmagog.  

The huge footprints of these legends have carved their way into the landscape, leaving traces of mystery and magic across every part of our region.  Have you ever cast your eye across the rugged Cornish landscape and thought about how it would have looked thousands of years ago? You wouldn’t be the first. Legends of giants are linked with almost every hill and valley and are widespread across Penwith, Carn Brea, St Agnes, Portreath, Bodmin Moor, Bedruthan and North Cornwall’s border with England. 

Typically, these legends offer explanations for natural occurrences… Throughout history, eagle-eyed dreamers have noticed rock formations on the cliffs and hillsides and wondered at their origins. Many have speculated at how a sky-scraping hill could sprout a perfect stack of stones. Did it result from giants throwing rocks at each other? And how about the building-sized rocks scattered off the coast? Were they stepping stones in the sea for giants to move around with ease? Maybe so… 

If I asked you to think of Cornish myths you were familiar with, you’d be excused if images of King Arthur, piskies, knockers, bucca or mermaids were the first to come to mind, but our Cornish ancestors were fixated on the larger than life as well. 

The giant myths of Cornwall have long fascinated with their accounts of horror, man-eating creatures, and tyranny. When we think about how a giant might look, they are frequently depicted as lethargic, ferocious monsters who intimidate the ordinary people. Is there any truth to it all? Or are they fearsome creatures we’ve dreamt up over the years? 

In the Eighteenth Century when Arthurian Legend fell out of fashion, stories of Cornish Giants were all the rage and Jack the Giant Killer became the Harry Potter of his day. The first published version of the Jack The Giant Killer myths open with a battle in one of the most iconic locations in the British Isles, right here in Cornwall.  

Behold the brave Cornishman, | Slayer of the Giant Cormilan.  

On the lofty slopes and shadowy caves of St. Michael’s Mount lived the gargantuan creature Cormilan. 
Reaching eighteen feet in height and nine feet wide, Cormilan cast a pall of dread over Mounts Bay as it preyed on the lifestock of the local farmers.  
A young man called Jack was assured the giant’s wealth in exchange for defeating the monster.  

At the first light of day on St Michael’s Mount, Jack sounded a horn, waking and provoking the angry giant to emerge. 
In a blind rage, the giant fell into a pit Jack had prepared.  
Jack killed the beast with a decisive swing of his pickaxe, converting the pit into the giant’s grave.  

When Arthuriana became popular again in the Nineteenth Century, the more fantasy elements, like the giants and Jack the Giant-Killer, were marginalised. We are left with one well-known tale and while it’s hard to know how the Beanstalk evolved out of St Michael’s Mount, this Cornish story was undoubtedly the start of this journey.
 

Know the myth now see it for real!

With a deep-rooted history of giant myths and legends in Cornwall, it is with the greatest pride and pleasure that we bring the giant and Jack back to life in a new way – one that celebrates these stories on stage, inviting every generation of Cornish folk to rediscover their magic this Christmas through the Cornwall Playhouse Production of Jack And The Beanstalk at Hall for Cornwall from 06 December 2024. 

Photographs by Hugh Hastings

Following the recent announcement that Edward Rowe will star as the Dame, meet the creative team delivering our giant pantomime extravaganza this Christmas!

Watch this video to find out more…

Last year, we broke all records with Peter Pan. With just over 4 months to go, this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk is proving popular with families making festive plans and has already sold over 10,000 tickets. 

The Cornwall Playhouse production will explore the very best pantomime traditions whilst drawing inspiration from the ancient Cornish love affair with giants, stretching back hundreds of years through spoken stories, myths and legends and rooted in some of the curious lumps, bumps and landmarks of our region. You can expect a handful of heritage, bucketfuls of bean gags and song-and-dance-laden festive fun for the whole family.

Joining the team as Director is award-winning pantomime expert Joyce Branagh.  Joyce trained at Orange Tree Theatre and Bristol Old Vic before directing extensively across the UK over the last three decades including Salisbury Playhouse, Harrogate Theatre Royal, Watford Palace, Oldham Coliseum, Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield, Lowry Manchester, Southwark Playhouse, Edinburgh Pleasance, Dublin Tivoli, Cork Opera House, Vienna’s English Theatre, and a production of the Arabian Nights Tales at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall and Tim Firth’s new musical Now Is Good at Chester Storyhouse. Joyce is passionate about pantomime, has directed them nearly every year since 2005 and also co-authored the book ‘Creating Pantomime’. 

Returning as Writer is Steve Marmion. Steve helms Watford Palace Theatre and is former Artistic Director of Soho Theatre, and is a great HfC friend, having written and directed Treasure Island and Peter Pan previously for Cornwall Playhouse Productions. 

Helen Tiplady, Deputy Creative Director of Hall for Cornwall, takes up the role of Producer and the show will be Executive Produced by HfC CEO and Creative Director Julien Boast. 

Richard Healey returns to arrange the Music and Orchestration, while Steve Hill takes up the role of Musical Director in the Pit. 

Anji Carroll joins as Casting Director. Anji has previously worked on casting for various TV, Film, Radio and Theatre productions. Her theatre productions include Around The World In 80 Days, The Snow Queen, and the Olivier-Award Winning The Worst Witch. Her TV credits include The Bill and BBC2’s The Cup. Her film credits include Lucy, 2.0 and West is West. 

Maggie Rawlinson will be putting the cast through their paces as Choreographer, having previously choreographed for 27 pantomimes. Maggie has worked extensively with director Joyce Branagh in Salisbury on pantomime productions alongside credits with many respected UK companies including Opera North and Theatr Clywd. 

HfC Cultural Ambassador David Howe returns as Lighting Designer. David previously worked on numerous West End productions and touring shows including Private Lives, Rent, Sister Act, and Rocky Horror Picture Show (European tour) as well as lighting recent Cornwall Playhouse Productions including Peter Pan and Treasure Island. 

Continuing HfC’s commitment to career and talent development in Cornwall, two members of the HfC Get Creative team spring into assistant roles with Kelly McDonald stepping up as Assistant Producer and James D’Arcy as Assistant Director. 

“Entertaining Cornwall through live performance is the driving force behind Cornwall Playhouse Productions – and this year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk promises to do just that. We’re delighted to assemble this pantomime powerhouse under the leadership of Joyce Branagh. ” 

– CEO and Creative Director of Hall for Cornwall, Julien Boast

 

“Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the best pantos in my opinion, because he’s got a great story. We all know about Jack. He goes up the Beanstalk, he meets the giant and certain things happen. But also it just seems really appropriate for Cornwall because you’ve got that history of giants and that’s where the story originates from.”

-Director Joyce Branagh

The full cast and youth ensemble will be announced soon.

Book now for Jack and the Beanstalk (Fri 06 – Tue 31 Dec) at the Cornwall Playhouse: