Clive Rowe directs this year's Hackney Empire pantomime and plays Dame Trot in it, with Kat B alongside him as Simple Simon Trot. The full company for Jack and the Beanstalk was announced today.
The full cast is set for Jack and the Beanstalk, this year's pantomime at the Hackney Empire. It opens on Saturday 21 November 2026 and closes on Thursday 31 December 2026, with the press performance on Thursday 3 December 2026.
Clive Rowe takes two jobs on it. He directs, and he plays Dame Trot. Rowe has been playing Dames at the theatre for more than 25 years, and was nominated as Best Director at the UK Pantomime Awards for last year's Cinderella; West End audiences saw him more recently in Hadestown. Kat B plays Simple Simon Trot, his 21st pantomime at the Hackney Empire.
The other principals are Marina Lawrence-Mahrra as Jack Trot, Summer Priest as Jill, Louise Cielecki as Fairy Firethorn, Christopher Staines as Stephen Fleshcreep and Andre Antonio, who doubles Harp and Timothy Trot. Lawrence-Mahrra has toured in Frankie Goes To Bollywood and appeared in Come Fall in Love at Manchester Opera House; Priest comes from the UK and world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical; Staines was in The Score at the Theatre Royal Haymarket; and Antonio has appeared in Romeo and Juliet at the Hackney Empire, the Belgrade Theatre and Bristol Old Vic.
The ensemble is Ellie Greenway, Alanna Panditaratne, Charlize Indigo, who makes their professional debut, Charlie Scales, Toby Seddon, Lara Wollington and Sam Jamison.
The run also carries the theatre through its 125th anniversary in December, and there is more to come before then. “Pantomime is at the heart of Hackney Empire, so it feels especially fitting that Jack and the Beanstalk will take us through the theatre's 125th birthday this December,” said CEO Chris Sudworth. “We have a few very special surprises in store as the anniversary approaches — including some familiar faces joining us along the way — and there is much more to announce over the coming week.”
Rowe said: “Hackney Empire panto is always the highlight of my year, and I can't wait to be back — both as director and causing mischief and mayhem as Dame Trot. There's something completely unique about the relationship between this theatre, its audiences and its pantomime, and we want to give everyone a show packed with everything they come to Hackney for: brilliant music, huge laughs, fabulous costumes and festive magic.”
Will Brenton writes the script. Steven Edis provides the original music and songs, and Wendy Gadian is musical director, arranger, orchestrator and supervisor. Cleo Pettitt designs set and costumes, Mike Ward choreographs, Tim Mitchell is lighting designer with Jake Lawrence as associate, and Richard Bell is sound designer. Sades Robinson-Craft is costume supervisor, Clare Packham assistant director, Rosamunde Hutt casting associate, Emily Obasohan producer, and Tom Kingdon production manager for Production Solutions Group.
Jack and the Beanstalk is on sale now at the Hackney Empire, with tickets from £12.
