Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk photos

Jack and the Beanstalk description

The Hackney Empire's pantomime for 2026 is Jack and the Beanstalk, directed by Clive Rowe, who also plays Dame Trot.

Jack Trot is sent to market to sell the family cow and comes home with a handful of beans instead. Overnight they grow into a beanstalk that reaches above the clouds, and at the top of it is a giant whose henchman, Stephen Fleshcreep, has designs on Hackney. Jack climbs, and what he finds up there decides whether the Trots keep their home.

Pantomime is the Hackney Empire's best-known annual fixture, and this run carries the theatre through its 125th anniversary in December. Clive Rowe has played Dames on this stage for more than 25 years and was nominated as Best Director at the UK Pantomime Awards for the theatre's Cinderella. Kat B returns for his 21st pantomime at the venue.

The script is by Will Brenton, with original music and songs by Steven Edis and Wendy Gadian as musical director, arranger, orchestrator and supervisor. Cleo Pettitt designs the set and costumes, Mike Ward choreographs, Tim Mitchell is lighting designer and Richard Bell is sound designer.

Clive Rowe, recently seen in the West End in Hadestown, leads the company as Dame Trot, with Kat B as Simple Simon Trot. Marina Lawrence-Mahrra, who toured in Frankie Goes To Bollywood, plays Jack Trot, and Summer Priest, from the UK and world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, plays Jill. Louise Cielecki is Fairy Firethorn, Christopher Staines, seen in The Score at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, is Stephen Fleshcreep, and Andre Antonio doubles as Harp and Timothy Trot.

Book tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire, a family pantomime led by Clive Rowe.

Playing at Hackney Empire

291 Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ GB (venue info)

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