Jack and the Beanstalk at the Mercury Theatre Colchester: full panto cast announced

Mercury Theatre Colchester has completed the cast of its 2026 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, with six more names joining the four already announced. Kemi Clarke returns to play Jack Trott, leading a company packed with familiar faces from last year’s panto.

The show runs at the Mercury from Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027, with a press performance on Saturday 28 November at 7pm. It is a Mercury Original, written by David Phipps-Davis and directed by the theatre's artistic director, Natasha Rickman.

Who is in the Colchester panto cast?

Kemi Clarke plays Jack Trott, with Antony Stuart-Hicks as Dame Tilly Trott, Dale Superville as Trevor Trott, Sasha Latoya as Fairy Peaseblossom and Jaimie Pruden as the villainous landowner Augusta Bigbucks. Daisy Greenwood plays Mallory Wilkin. Clarke, Greenwood and Dee Dee Rivers all return from last year’s Colchester panto, and Lucie Henderson is back too. Rivers is also dance captain. The full cast list and the cast’s earlier credits are further down this page.

What is the story?

On Trott’s Farm, times are tough and money is running out. When Augusta Bigbucks snaps up the farm for a bargain, the family are forced to sell their much-loved Pat at the town market. Then a giant beanstalk appears, a fearsome giant threatens Colchester, and Jack must climb to Cloudland, face the giant and save the town before it’s too late.

Expect laugh-out-loud comedy, big songs, high-energy choreography and spectacular sets, in a festive adventure for the whole family.

When is the Colchester panto on?

The panto runs at the theatre on Balkerne Gate, Colchester, from Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027, with a press night on Saturday 28 November at 7pm. The show lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval. Family performances are recommended for ages 5 and over, and the over-18s performance on Saturday 9 January is strictly 18+. The show is likely to contain haze, loud noises, loud music and flashing lights.

Are there accessible performances?

Yes. The theatre has scheduled a full programme of accessible performances:

• Relaxed: Thursday 3 December 2026 at 12pm (also a schools performance) and Sunday 10 January 2027 at 12pm (also BSL interpreted)
• Audio described, with touch tours: Saturday 5 December 2026 at 2pm and Saturday 16 January 2027 at 7pm
• Captioned: Saturday 5 December 2026 at 7pm and Saturday 16 January 2027 at 2pm
• BSL interpreted: Friday 4 December 2026 at 7pm, Saturday 9 January 2027 at 7.30pm (also the over-18s show) and Sunday 10 January 2027 at 2pm (also relaxed)

Full cast and creative team

• Jack Trott: Kemi Clarke
• Dame Tilly Trott: Antony Stuart-Hicks
• Trevor Trott: Dale Superville
• Fairy Peaseblossom: Sasha Latoya
• Augusta Bigbucks: Jaimie Pruden
• Mallory Wilkin: Daisy Greenwood
• Ensemble and dance captain: Dee Dee Rivers
• Ensemble and the Cow: Lucie Henderson and Dara Gleeson
• Ensemble: Christopher Edwards

Kemi Clarke's credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Leicester Curve and on tour, and The Gruffalo in the West End and on tour. Daisy Greenwood has appeared in Becoming Nancy at Birmingham Rep and the Made in Dagenham 10th anniversary concert at the London Palladium. Dee Dee Rivers was in Mother Goose at the Mercury and Robin Hood at Thorington Theatre. Lucie Henderson, in the female ensemble and as the Cow, previously appeared in Beauty and the Beast at the Mercury in 2022/23. New to the Colchester panto are Christopher Edwards, whose credits include The Wizard of Oz at Exeter Corn Exchange, in the ensemble and understudying the male roles, and Dara Gleeson in the male ensemble and as the Cow.

The panto is written by David Phipps-Davis and directed by Natasha Rickman, with design by Libby Todd, choreography by Rosie Mather and musical direction by Joshua Tarrier. Matt Ladkin designs the lighting and Tom Attwood the sound. Jordan Langford is intimacy director, Antony Stuart-Hicks is creative consultant and Dale Superville is associate director, with Alex Ray as associate lighting designer and Wesley Laing as associate sound designer.

We will report further news as soon as it is announced. In the meantime, follow Jack and the Beanstalk at the Mercury Theatre Colchester (coming soon) for the latest details.