The Beacon Reveals Cast For Jack And The Beanstalk Pantomime
The cast for this year's Beacon panto Jack and the Beanstalk has been revealed, with Bowman Rebecchi proud to sponsor this year's show.
Favourites Jane McCarry and Mark Cox will return once again to the stage for some fantastic festive fun.
The duo, best known for their roles as Isa and Tam in Still Game, will be joined by River City's Jimmy Chisholm, along with Lee Samuel, Shannon Swan and Sam Willison.
Hailed as 'Scotland's best panto', it will be produced in-house for the third year in a row, putting an Inverclyde spin on the traditional fairy tale.
Karen Townsend, co-director of Beacon Arts Centre, said: “Our annual family pantomime is one of the highlights of the year, and we are delighted to welcome back our wonderful cast to take audiences on a magical, fun-filled and exciting journey to Inverstrone this year.
“We are proud that our show, produced in-house, has become one of Scotland’s must-see pantomimes.
"The Beacon is lighting up lives in Inverclyde and beyond by bringing the magic of theatre to audiences young and old, while providing a huge boost to the local economy through ticket sales and work opportunities.
“We look forward to welcoming back our amazing Inverclyde audience this year."
Audience members will be transported to the magical land of Inverstrone, where the giant Greedyguts plans to destroy the kingdom if Dame Trot doesn’t give him her precious cow.
The 2024 run gets underway on Saturday, December 7, and there will be multiple performances running over the festive period until Hogmanay.
Group discounts are available and there will be special shows taking place for local schoolchildren.
The Beacon is committed to making the pantomime accessible to all, with British Sign Language and relaxed performances being planned, free tickets for disabled companions, and wheelchair access throughout the venue.
Last year was a record-breaking one for the Beacon’s panto, with more than 17,500 audience members coming to see the show, and it drew rave reviews from critics across the country.
At the time the Greenock Telegraph described it as a “spectacular show exceeded all expectations by miles”, adding: “This is a timeless tale, told sensitively and hilariously through an expertly-crafted script brought to life by an incredibly talented cast.”
Bowman Rebecchi is a proud sponsor of this year’s pantomime, continuing its long-term relationship with the Beacon Arts Centre.
Speaking of the new sponsorship, Andrew Bowman, Director at Bowman Rebecchi said: “The quality and calibre of the cast and production by the Beacon over the past few years in particular has been superb and we can proudly say we have a national calibre production right here in Inverclyde.
“With 17,500 tickets sold last year alone, it is clear to see the rising popularity of the pantomime, which provides Bowman Rebecchi a superb opportunity to raise our profile with the attendees through this unique sponsorship.
“We look forward to this year’s show and wish all of the cast and crew every success for Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Tickets are on sale now, with customers able to book for last year’s prices for a limited time here.