The Hackney Empire has today announced the full cast for its highly anticipated 2015 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. The newly announced cast members will be joining Debbie Kurup as Jack, Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trott and Kat B as snowman.
Joining Rowe, Kurup and Kat B in this year’s production the cast includes: Jocelyn Jee Esien, Tony Timberlake, Julia Sutton, Darren Hart, Lori Barker, Leon Sweeney, Emanuel Alba, Frances Dee, Jonathan Prestney, Katie Shearman, Dale White and Sharon D Clarke as the Voice of Davina. But the roles of Molly and the voice of the giant have still yet to be confirmed.
Jack and the Beanstalk has been written and directed by the Hackney Empire’s Creative Director Susie McKenna and features music by Steven Edis. The team have worked together to create some of the most fondly remembered pantomimes in the last decade.
In true pantomime style, Jack and the Beanstalk will feature a break dancing cow, mad baddies and buckets of silliness to keep the audience entertained.
After 15 years of constant winter, the kingdom of Hackneydale is struggling with austerity cuts. McKenna’s production for the Hackney Empire tells two different stories: that of the young and eager Jack and the other of the big and scary giant. While Jack is tempted to sell his cow for a handful of magic beans, the giant’s inventions for making gold is destroying the earth. Can Jack and his friends save the day?
Clive Rowe was nominated for the 2008 Olivier award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for his role as Mother Goose at Hackney Empire. He won the Olivier Award for his performance in Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre.
Debbie Kurup has appeared in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre, Chicago, Tonight’s the Night, Sister Act and West Side Story – all in the West End.
Kat B is returning to the Hackney Empire following his appearance as Billy Goose in last year’s production of Mother Goose. Other credits include: A Christmas Carol, Dick Whittington and Cinderella.
Jack and the Beanstalk opens at the Hackney Empire on the 21st November and runs until the 3rd January.