Jack and the Beanstalk (2025)

Jack and the Beanstalk
[[File: |300px]] Jack and the Beanstalk promotional image
Dates	12-28 December 2024
Venue	The Tower Theatre
Director	Alice Hawkins
Producer	Emma Franks, Richard Hawkins & Karen Prineas
Musical Director	Andy Hartley
Choreographer	Sophie Burgess-Adams

The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society celebrated their 51st year of Christmas pantomimes with a production of Jack and the beanstalk on 12-28 December 2025 at The Tower Theatre, Folkestone.

Foreword

The enchanting tale of Jack and the beanstalk revolves around a young boy and his mother, who face the tough decision of selling their only cow for much-needed money. On his way to the market, Jack encounters a mysterious stranger who persuades him to trade the cow for a handful of magic beans. This fateful exchange ignites his mother's fury and leads to the astonishing growth of a giant beanstalk overnight, setting the stage for Jack's unforgettable adventure.

Originally staged as a pantomime in 1819, this adaptation by Peter Denyer premiered at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon in 1993 and was most recently revised in 2005.

Alice Hawkins has cherished her involvement with pantomime since she first joined the junior ensemble at the age of eight. Over the years, she has taken on various roles, including producing numerous FHODS pantomimes at The Tower Theatre. This year, she is thrilled to step into the role of Director. Alice feels incredibly fortunate to work with Andy Hartley as Musical Director and welcomes back Sophie Burgess-Adams as Choreographer, both of whom bring immense talent, knowledge, and dedication to the production.

No show at The Tower Theatre could come to life without the remarkable team of volunteers. From producers, props, lighting, wardrobe, and stage crew to the chaperones and our wonderful front of house team, we extend our heartfelt thank you to each one of you.

Lastly, we hope you enjoy this pantomime as much as we have loved bringing to it life. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.

With warm regards, Alice and the team.

Cast

• Hannah Ridley as Jack
• Steve Hawkins as Dame Trot
• Jack Willcox as Silly Billy
• Ava Wright as Jill
• Chris Willcox as Fleshcreep
• Michelle Hartley as Fairy Moonbeam
• Sheelagh Blackham as Queen Matilda
• Pauline Gullidge as Grabbit
• Tracey Silvester as Villager
• Sofie Allen & Shia Wood as Daisy the Cow

Junior Villagers

• Leo Willcox, Blossom Morgan & Samantha Hartley

Giant

• Joe Doherty, Dylan Bryan & Paul Milton

Team A Seniors

Annie Gage, Winnie Southby, Poppy Fisher-Hindle, Florence Bell & Olivia Wickens

Team A Juniors

Gracie Fields, Ellie-Rose Grist, Isla Rolfe, Scarlett Turner & Harper Smith

Team B Seniors

Hattie Sparks, Bethany Giles, Flo Hills-Lawes, Violet Hawkins & Orla O'Callaghan

Team B Juniors

• Tehilah Jepson, Grace Hills, Ellie Lamb, Hattie Austin & Evie Towse

Production Team

• Director: Alice Hawkins
• Choreographer: Sophie Burgess-Adams
• Musical Director and Pianist: Andy Hartley
• Percussion: Jamie Crompton
• Producers: Emma Franks, Richard Hawkins & Karen Prineas
• Stage Manager: Paul Milton
• Deputy Stage Manager: George Perkins
• Lighting Design: Chris Willcox
• Lighting Operation: Rebecca Soutar & Leigh Chambers
• Sound: Eleanor Boyle & Leigh Chambers
• Set Design: Chris Willcox
• Set Construction: Chris Willcox, Andy Hartley, Adam Button, Eleanor Prineas, Edie Monk-Jones, Anouk Woodhouse, Leah Wood, George Perkins & Myra Collingridge
• Props: Myra Collingridge
• Wardrobe Mistresses: Kate Richmond & Sheelagh Blackham
• Wardrobe Team: Sylvia Best, Wendy Allum, Liz Rutland, Sam Mills, Jan Novis, Maggie Denham, Jaqui Neve, Livia Wright, Christine Hoveman, Joyce Whawell, Jenny Hartley & Carol Wood
• Dame Dressers: Emma Franks, Alice Hawkins, Wendy Allum, Liz Rutland, Livia Wright, Jan Novis & Sylvia Best
• Backstage: Myra Collingridge, Caroline Dowling, Conrad Eke, Ben Forrest, Emma Franks, Hannah Manton, Paul Moran, Kaz Sharman & Tricia Smith
• Giant's Voice: Mike Chisnall
• Design/Media: Malcolm Laye, George Holness, Michelle Hartley Gary Ingoldby-Spate & Olivia Coley
• FHODS Marketing: Merewyn Forrest
• Photography: George Holness & Michelle Hartley
• Child Protection Officer: Karen Prineas

For The Tower Theatre

• Events and Marketing Manager: Michelle Hartley
• Front of House Manager: Gary Ingoldby-Spate
• Theatre Operations Lead: Andy Hartley
• Theatre Technical Lead: Eleanor Boyle

FHODS extends its thanks to the Front of House volunteers, Chaperones and Bear Team. Anyone interested in joining the team can contact Joanne Pearce at foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk.