It’s Panto time again… (oh yes it is!) as Thetford Players begin a six show run this Friday bringing Ben Crocker’s ‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ to life at the town’s Carnegie Room. 

Join Jack from the dairy (Emma Patrick); his mum Dame Madonna Trot (Tim Lovejoy); cowman Simple Simon (Jade Balmer); Merrydale’s King Betram (Phil Pearson) and Flunkit his Royal Flunky (Liz Staight) as they go on an adventure to rescue Princess Demelza (Charlie Wilson) from the clutches of the Giant (Stuart Wright) and his sidekick, Slimeball (Mark Robinson). Helping them along their way is Edena the Eco-Fairy (Nicola Kurn).  And of course, no Jack & the Beanstalk panto would be complete without a cow, Daisy (Bobbie-Jo Wilson & Chloe Robinson). 

The pantomime runs over the next two weekends including two matinee performances.  With a chorus of new and familiar faces the show promises to be another spectacular of fabulous costumes and live music.

Thanks to funding from Shadwell Community Fund through Norfolk Community Foundation two of the performances will be signed for the deaf on Friday 16 January at 7.30pm and Saturday 17 January at 1.30pm.

Other shows are on Friday 9 January at 7.30pm, Saturday 10 January at 1.30pm and 6.30pm and Saturday 17 January at 6.30pm.

Thetford Players pantomime returns following last year’s highly successful ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, which has just been nominated for Best Pantomime in the NODA(see notes*) East Region Annual Awards. Director for both shows, Caroline Foot said, “I heard the news following our Technical Rehearsal at the weekend and couldn’t be more excited! It takes a whole team effort to put on a pantomime, so everyone who was involved should be very proud of themselves.  The timing couldn’t be better as it gives this year’s cast and crew an extra boost before curtain up on Friday.” The winners of the annual awards will be announced in May.

With plenty of chance to boo and hiss at two local councillors who play the baddies this year in Jack & the Beanstalk,  it is surely an opportunity not to be missed!

Tickets on sale from Leaping Hare, 20 King Street, Thetford, www.leapinghare.org , 01842 751975

For further information please contact [email protected]

*Notes:

NODA is the National Operatic and Dramatic Society. Thetford Players only joined NODA towards the end of 2013 and belong to East Region. The Sleeping Beauty was the first of our shows a NODA rep attended.

You can read their review here: https://www.noda.org.uk/events/reports/the_sleeping_beauty_6