Jack and the Beanstalk

Cambridge panto 2026: Jack and the Beanstalk at the Arts Theatre

Jack and the Beanstalk is the Arts Theatre Cambridge's 2026 Christmas pantomime, running from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at the theatre on St Edward's Passage in the centre of Cambridge. The script is by Chris Jarvis, and Kevan Allen directs and choreographs.

Ian McKellen will be heard as the voice of The Giant, recorded specially for this production, alongside a cast led by Cambridge's favourite dame, Matt Crosby, and UK Pantomime Award winner Steven Roberts.

The story and what to expect

The Trott family are down on their luck and struggling to make ends meet. After Jack sells Daisy, the family's beloved cow, for a handful of magic beans, his world is turned upside down when an enormous beanstalk sprouts outside his window. Can he climb through the clouds, defeat the fearsome giant and save the people of Cambridge?

The theatre promises a gigantic adventure full of music, comedy, magic and festive fun. Alongside the dame there is a villain in Fleshcreep, a good fairy in Fairy Sunshine and a pantomime cow in Daisy.

Ian McKellen as the voice of The Giant

Audiences will hear Ian McKellen's voice throughout the show as he brings The Giant to life. Chris Jarvis wrote the script with McKellen in mind, and McKellen recorded his lines in early October 2026. His voice is pre-recorded, and he does not appear on stage. He is no stranger to pantomime, having starred in Mother Goose in the West End and Wicked Witches, A Popular Panto! at the Pleasance Theatre. His screen roles include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films and Magneto in the X-Men films, and on stage he has played the title role in Richard III. His work has earned him a Tony Award, six Laurence Olivier Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

McKellen has a personal link to the building. He is an ambassador for the Arts Theatre's capital campaign and last year joined Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi and Richard Eyre in a campaign film supporting the theatre's redevelopment. On a visit to the theatre he recalled: "I can take you to the very flagstone at the stage door where I decided that I would give it a go and become a professional actor."

Jack and the Beanstalk cast

Matt Crosby returns as Dame Trott, after celebrating twenty years in Arts Theatre pantomimes last year, and Steven Roberts plays Jack Trott in his fourth. Roberts is a UK Pantomime Award winner. They are joined by actress, comic artist and writer Jessica Martin (9 to 5 the Musical) as the villainous Fleshcreep, Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos (A World Elsewhere) as Princess Jilly, Emma Williams (Top Hat) as Fairy Sunshine, Stuart Simons (La Cage aux Folles) as Merlin the Wizard and Xander Powell as Daisy the Cow. The ensemble is Sebastian Anthony, Charlie Donnelly, Harley Reynolds, Ollie Selwood, Eva Shivani and Sam Woods.

Writer and creative team

Chris Jarvis, the CBeebies and BBC presenter, actor and writer, has written the script. He has been writing pantomimes for stage and screen since 1995. Kevan Allen directs and choreographs, making his directorial debut at the Arts Theatre after more than a decade as its resident choreographer.

Dates and times

Jack and the Beanstalk opens on Friday 27 November 2026 and plays until Sunday 3 January 2027, with press night on Tuesday 1 December at 6pm. Daily performance times are to be announced by the venue.

Who is it for (age guidance and running time)

The Arts Theatre says the show is suitable for all ages. The running time is to be announced by the venue.

Accessible performances

There are relaxed performances on Saturday 5 December at 11am and Sunday 27 December at 11am. The Saturday 5 December performance is also BSL interpreted. The captioned performance is on Saturday 12 December at 2pm, and the audio described performance is on Sunday 13 December at 3pm, with a touch tour.

Panto at the Arts Theatre Cambridge

The theatre says Christmas in Cambridge isn't complete without an Arts Theatre pantomime, and its panto has recent form: the Arts Theatre won Best Pantomime in the 550 to 900 seat category at the 2026 UK Pantomime Awards for its 2025/26 show. The theatre itself was founded in 1936 by John Maynard Keynes and has been part of Cambridge's cultural life for 90 years. It is an independent charity, presenting drama, musicals, comedy and family shows, and it plans to build a 200 seat rooftop studio theatre.

Getting to the Arts Theatre Cambridge

The Arts Theatre Cambridge is at 6 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ.