Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
Tamworth Assembly Rooms pair up with Laughing Bulldog Events for a GIANT pantomime adventure with a staging of Jack and the Beanstalk that is jam-packed with hilarity, silliness, and so much fun!
Being my first visit to this lovely venue, I was intrigued from the get-go and I was not to be disappointed. This pantomime served up over 2 hours of sheer chaotic magnificence that all ages will find so much enjoyment in.
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| The cast at the curtain call |
Written, directed, and starring Sam Beech, this is a pantomime which is so superbly realised. It's littered with local references, with many of the local towns being the butt of a joke throughout the performance and even little nods to things around the town, such as internet sensation Spud Man. Beech has crafted a script that allows for plenty of laughs alongside storytelling beats and traditional pantomime moments such as the ghost scene.
The first act flies through and builds the plot as the evil Fleshcreep works for his giant of a boss, Blunderbore, overlooking the town of Tamworth O'er Pantoland. He raises the taxi and does evil deeds that mean the townsfolk are living on edge. In steps the local farmers, the Trotts, and their beloved cow Daisy, who is sold unknowingly to Fleshcreep in exchange for beans. It just happens that these are magic beans and up grows a giant beanstalk that leads to the giant's castle. I'm sure you can fill the rest of the plot in yourselves!
The set is well imagined within the confines of the space. I'm not sure how big the backstage area is, but they sure packed things in! The beanstalk is cleverly brought to life on one side of the stage. There's even a clever moment as the character Simon flies in a jetpack in the Act One finale. Blunderbore is superbly realised and performed by Charlie Mills - no easy job controlling something of that size. Whilst the painted backdrops have a traditional feel, as do the curtains designed by Emma Freeth.
The genius in this panto is the element of playful fun. The cast clearly relishes their time on stage. There are numerous moments where the cast stumble a line (deliberately or not - it's hard to tell in pantoland!) and together they giggle and gleefully keep the pace alive. The second act is the funniest act of my entire pantomime season. I was in fits of laughter at numerous moments.
At the core of it all is Beech himself, who plays Simon, the more idiotic of the Trott brothers. He delivers the role with such a keen eye for the laughs, playing directly to the audience, constantly breaking the fourth wall (in fact, I'm not even sure there's a fourth wall here in this show!). He knows how to make something land and when to rein it back in. Beech's second half 'my last date' routine using snippets from popular songs is arguably the pantomime's funniest sequence. The use of the songs is SO clever and the gags keep coming, although they're more than a bit naughty...
Beech is the undoubted star of the show, but he gives everyone the chance to shine too. It's not just his show; it's truly an ensemble piece. William Witt as Jack Trott and Chelsie Faulks as Jill Crumble are a warm, affable pairing and their relationship in the show plays out really warmly. I like that Jill got plenty to do and it wasn't just relying on Jack all the time. Both deliver their musical moments really well with some lovely solo work as well as duets or group numbers.
Jack Gamble is a delightful Dame as Dotty Trott. All good pantomime dames are larger-than-life and that is what Gamble does really well. He embraces the character entirely and plays it perfectly. The array of costumes adds to the fun.
Lauren Margaret is a lovely Fairy Flora. She constantly adds a sense of light to the stage. Whilst Ricardo Alexander has a hoot of a time hamming it up as the villainous Fleshcreep. He enjoys the roaring chorus of boos. He is superbly cast in the role, and his vocal work is great. Charlie Mills has a hoot as Mayor Crumble; he is delightfully funny.
Olivia-Joy Shepherd almost completely steals the show as Daisy the cow. She has such a great stage presence (although it must be absolutely roasting in the costume under the lights!). Her delivery is always with the brightest smile and you can sense the younger ones in the audience (and even some of the adults!) are rooting for Daisy the whole time.
Having a live band always adds to a pantomime and here the band is key throughout. Under the musical direction of Tim Robinson and with Helen Shelton on drums and Matt Barks and Dave Hanson on Bass it always sounds terrific. The music numbers are well-written to fit in the world of the show. No number feels jarring or really slows down the pace of the show. The euphoric Elton John finale of 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting', ‘Crocodile Rock’ and 'I'm Still Standing' ends the show on a real high. The sound design by Danny Parkinson is impressive throughout.
In a show with numerous standouts, including the aforementioned 'my last date' sequence, but the star and most chaotic scene is The 12 Days of Christmas. This is 10 minutes or so of unabashed play. The Five Toilet Rolls are flung around the entire space, each throw by an audience member adds to the purest silliness of it. They are flung around for a good few minutes before finally returning to Simon. After this calms down comes the super soaking on day 12. Reader, I suspected it would be a lot, but I got an absolutely soaking. No audience member is safe here. It's mayhem!
This was my first visit to the Tamworth Pantomime, but I shall be making this part of my annual traditions now. One of the best pantomimes of the season. It's so silly, so funny, and a GIANT amount of fun. Huge credit to Sam Beech and all involved, who have created a family piece of theatre that you'll be thinking about all year, until their staging of Dick Whittington at the venue next Christmas! I LOVED it.
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at Tamworth Assembly Rooms until Sunday 18th January 2026. Tickets are available from https://www.tamworthpanto.co.uk/
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