Climb Jack's beanstalk for un-veg-etable night of panto

The Bristol Hippodrome's Christmas panto is back, and this year we're invited to join Jack up the Beanstalk for a festive extravaganza!

- NATALIE BANYARD

T’S the giant pantomime we've all BEAN (sorry!) waiting for...

The Bristol Hippodrome's pantos are always a highlight of the Christmas calendar, and this year audiences are in for a gigantic treat as an all-star cast present Jack and The Beanstalk.

Expect the spectacular as pop icon Will Young, soap star Charlie Brooks, children’s TV favourite Richard Cadell with Sooty and Sweep, and Bristol panto legend Andy Ford join forces to bring bags of merriment, music and mayhem to Bristol.

They'll be joined by faaaaaaaaabulous panto dame and cabaret artist Ceri Dupree and musical theatre performers Benjamin Yates and Ashlyn Weekes for a show that’s not to be missed.

Gather all your family and friends and join Jack on a mission to climb the beanstalk to Cloudland, where he'll fight to outwit the evil Giant, win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and capture the heart of the one he loves.

Along the way, there will be thrills and spills, good and evil, music and dancing, spectacular sets and special effects, laughter and audience participation.

Jack and the Beanstalk is produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the company behind recent pantomime successes including Brian Conley’s appearance in Goldilocks and the Three Bears last Christmas.

The Bristol Hippodrome’s theatre director Ben Phillips says: “I am so excited for this year’s family Christmas treat, and Jack and the Beanstalk is the classic British pantomime. And what a cast we have, good, evil, glamour, comedy and family favourites. I'll let you decide who is who!

“Bristol audiences love their family panto and with Will, Charlie, Richard and Sooty, Andy, Ceri and Ashlyn entertaining us, I’m sure we'll be booked up quickly again! I’m lucky enough to see your smiling faces year on year and look forward to seeing you all again this Christmas. Oh yes I do!”