Jack and the Beanstalk

Colchester pantomime 2026

This Christmas the Mercury Theatre Colchester presents Jack and the Beanstalk, the pantomime spectacular you’ve all BEAN waiting for, from 21 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. Colchester panto legends Antony Stuart-Hicks and Dale Superville are back to cause more mischief and mayhem in a GIANT adventure, with press night on Saturday 28 November.

The story

Join Jack, Trevor and their Mum, Tilly, at Trott’s farm. Money is running low, and when the ruthless landowner Augusta Bigbucks snaps up the farm for a steal, things get even more precarious. The family make the difficult decision to sell their beloved cow, Pat, at Culver Square market. Then a giant beanstalk appears, and the town fears the ferocious giant will return to cause havoc. Will Jack be brave enough to climb up to Cloudland, defeat the giant and save Colchester before it’s too late?

The Mercury promises lots of laughter, marvellous music, spellbinding choreography and jaw-dropping sets, with plenty of chances to cheer, boo and shout “He’s behind you!”

Cast

Antony Stuart-Hicks plays the Dame, Tilly Trott. He celebrates 31 years in pantomime and 11 years as the Mercury’s resident Dame, and won Best Dame at the UK Pantomime Awards 2025. Dale Superville plays Trevor Trott; his Mercury pantos include Smee in The New Adventures of Peter Pan and Spud in Sleeping Beauty, and his West End credits include Fawlty Towers.

In the full company announced by the Mercury, Kemi Clarke (The Gruffalo, West End and UK tour) plays Jack Trott, Sasha Latoya is Fairy Peaseblossom, Jaimie Pruden is Augusta Bigbucks and Daisy Greenwood is Mallory Wilkin. Dee Dee Rivers, Lucie Henderson, Christopher Edwards and Dara Gleeson complete the ensemble, with Henderson and Gleeson sharing the Cow.

Creative team

Jack and the Beanstalk is a Mercury Original, written by David Phipps-Davis and directed by Mercury Artistic Director Natasha Rickman. Libby Todd designs, with choreography by Rosie Mather, musical direction by Joshua Tarrier, lighting by Matt Ladkin and sound by Tom Attwood.

Dates and times

The pantomime runs from Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027. Most evening performances are at 7pm, with matinees at 2pm and Sunday shows at 12pm and 4.30pm. The run includes term-time schools performances and 18+ adult performances in January at 7.30pm (plus 2pm on Saturday 9 January). The running time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval.

Who is it for

Family performances are recommended for ages 5 and over; the January adult performances are strictly 18+ and a little more risqué. The show is likely to contain haze, loud noises, loud music and flashing lights.

Accessible performances

Relaxed performances are on Thursday 3 December at 12pm and Sunday 10 January at 12pm. Audio-described performances, with touch tours, are on Saturday 5 December at 2pm and Saturday 16 January at 7pm. Captioned performances are on Saturday 5 December at 7pm and Saturday 16 January at 2pm. BSL-interpreted performances are on Friday 4 December at 7pm, Saturday 9 January at 7.30pm (an 18+ show) and Sunday 10 January at 2pm.