With a fabulous set, stunning costumes, bags of comedy, amazing special effects and audience participation a-plenty, Jack and the Beanstalk has something that the whole family will love at The Place, Telford this Christmas.
The star studded cast this year includes Oliver Mellor as Fleshcreep. Best known for his appearances in Coronation Street as Dr Matt Carter, Oliver has also appeared in other popular TV shows including Cold Feet, Eastenders, Emmerdale, Doctor Who and The Royal.
Back by popular demand is Carl Dutfield as Jack. He brought the house down last year as Buttons in Cinderella and the Hilarious Tim Ames as Dame Trott.
What's On caught up with the stars ahead of the show's run...
Carl Dutfield returns to The Place to take on the role of Jack
You’re back by popular demand, how does it feels to be returning this year?
It’s really good actually. I played Buttons last year and I loved it. They wanted me back as a comedy character again this year, so they decided to mix the two roles together, so I am Jack and the comedy character. It’s quite an honour for them to not only want me back, but for them to also give me the two roles.
As a performer, what attracts you to panto?
I really enjoy being an idiot. That’s why I like being the comedy character because I am an idiot myself. I like to be the joker, I play practical jokes all the time so for me to do it on stage, it’s not even acting. It’s just me. I just get to be myself on stage all the time.
Do you have a favourite panto from when you were a child?
I never went to any pantomimes as a kid. The earliest memory I’ve got was when I did my first pantomime, when I was working for a British holiday company and I was understudy Jack. So I’ve gone full circle in the 13 years of entertainment, and now I’m back as Jack in a theatre.
Coronation Street's Oliver Mellor plays the role of Fleshcreep
Tell us more about your role...
This year I am playing Fleshcreep, so I am the bad guy. It’s a nice opportunity for me to do something different. I’ve done quite a few pantos now and I’ve played the nice guy, Peter Pan, the Prince, the Beast, so it’s a really nice opportunity for me to show a different side. It’s always good fun playing the bad guy.
There’s a lot of audience interaction isn’t there when you’re the bad guy...
Yeah, if they’re not booing loud, then you’re not doing your job. There’s a lot of fun and joy in panto but I’m looking forward to doing something a bit darker.
As a performer, what attracts you to pantomime?
It’s seeing the reactions from both sides of the audience, from the kids and from the adults. Watching the amazement and awe from the kids when they look at the visuals, the humour, when they’re scared, when they’re booing or when they’re screaming. Then you get to also bring out the humour that goes over their heads but hits the adults and makes them laugh. It’s a real joy.
Tim Ames plays Dame Trott
What do you like the most about being a dame in panto?
It is the fact that you can be slightly cheeky to people, but not as yourself. You can say things as a dame that you wouldn’t neccessarily say yourself, well, without getting punched.
What are you looking forward to the most with Jack and the Beanstalk?
Everything - I just love the whole buzz of panto. I love turning up to rehearsals and I love watching the show coming together. Then going out and playing it to audiences, it’s a magical experience. I loved panto as a kid, and I love it now.
Why do you think panto is still so popular?
It’s so uniquely British, and it’s part of that Christmas tradition for so many families. I don’t think its Christmas without panto. It just works on so many levels, kids can enjoy it, adults can enjoy it, it’s just great.
Jack and the Beanstalk shows at The Place, Telford from Wednesday 11 December - Sunday 5 January, you can book your tickets at theplacetelford.com
With a fabulous set, stunning costumes, bags of comedy, amazing special effects and audience participation a-plenty, Jack and the Beanstalk has something that the whole family will love at The Place, Telford this Christmas.
The star studded cast this year includes Oliver Mellor as Fleshcreep. Best known for his appearances in Coronation Street as Dr Matt Carter, Oliver has also appeared in other popular TV shows including Cold Feet, Eastenders, Emmerdale, Doctor Who and The Royal.
Back by popular demand is Carl Dutfield as Jack. He brought the house down last year as Buttons in Cinderella and the Hilarious Tim Ames as Dame Trott.
What's On caught up with the stars ahead of the show's run...
Carl Dutfield returns to The Place to take on the role of Jack
You’re back by popular demand, how does it feels to be returning this year?
It’s really good actually. I played Buttons last year and I loved it. They wanted me back as a comedy character again this year, so they decided to mix the two roles together, so I am Jack and the comedy character. It’s quite an honour for them to not only want me back, but for them to also give me the two roles.
As a performer, what attracts you to panto?
I really enjoy being an idiot. That’s why I like being the comedy character because I am an idiot myself. I like to be the joker, I play practical jokes all the time so for me to do it on stage, it’s not even acting. It’s just me. I just get to be myself on stage all the time.
Do you have a favourite panto from when you were a child?
I never went to any pantomimes as a kid. The earliest memory I’ve got was when I did my first pantomime, when I was working for a British holiday company and I was understudy Jack. So I’ve gone full circle in the 13 years of entertainment, and now I’m back as Jack in a theatre.
Coronation Street's Oliver Mellor plays the role of Fleshcreep
Tell us more about your role...
This year I am playing Fleshcreep, so I am the bad guy. It’s a nice opportunity for me to do something different. I’ve done quite a few pantos now and I’ve played the nice guy, Peter Pan, the Prince, the Beast, so it’s a really nice opportunity for me to show a different side. It’s always good fun playing the bad guy.
There’s a lot of audience interaction isn’t there when you’re the bad guy...
Yeah, if they’re not booing loud, then you’re not doing your job. There’s a lot of fun and joy in panto but I’m looking forward to doing something a bit darker.
As a performer, what attracts you to pantomime?
It’s seeing the reactions from both sides of the audience, from the kids and from the adults. Watching the amazement and awe from the kids when they look at the visuals, the humour, when they’re scared, when they’re booing or when they’re screaming. Then you get to also bring out the humour that goes over their heads but hits the adults and makes them laugh. It’s a real joy.
Tim Ames plays Dame Trott
What do you like the most about being a dame in panto?
It is the fact that you can be slightly cheeky to people, but not as yourself. You can say things as a dame that you wouldn’t neccessarily say yourself, well, without getting punched.
What are you looking forward to the most with Jack and the Beanstalk?
Everything - I just love the whole buzz of panto. I love turning up to rehearsals and I love watching the show coming together. Then going out and playing it to audiences, it’s a magical experience. I loved panto as a kid, and I love it now.
Why do you think panto is still so popular?
It’s so uniquely British, and it’s part of that Christmas tradition for so many families. I don’t think its Christmas without panto. It just works on so many levels, kids can enjoy it, adults can enjoy it, it’s just great.
Jack and the Beanstalk shows at The Place, Telford from Wednesday 11 December - Sunday 5 January, you can book your tickets at theplacetelford.com