Meet the Creative Team behind Jack and the Beanstalk!

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: