REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5 stars]
Experience true Christmas magic at Salisbury Playhouse this festive season
Take your seats and get ready to be transported to Salisburyshire for just over two hours of pure pantomime joy thanks to Wiltshire Creative. Combining a well-loved (but updated) plot line, breathtaking design, catchy pop songs, regular audience participation and a healthy sprinkling of innuendos, Jack and the Beanstalk has all of the hallmarks of a jolly good pantomime.
George Olney and Young Company 📸 Pamela Raith
The story loosely mirrors the family favourite fairytale, but with many imaginative twists by writers Plested, Wilsher and Brown, who’ve written the last four sparkling pantomimes at Salisbury Playhouse. Conversations with the writing team start about 18 months before the opening night, and it’s clear from the clever wordplay and extraordinary ideas, the amount of time that has been spent meticulously crafting the script. Balancing just the right number of innuendos, local references and pantomime tropes alongside engaging child-friendly storytelling, Jack and the Beanstalk manages to entertain audience members of all ages.
George Olney, Isabella Mason and Eloise Runnette 📸 Pamela Raith
This pantomime follows Jack (George Olney) and Jill (Isabella Mason), with the help of Fairy Fabulous (Nic James), Dame Caroline Trotter (Dan Smith) and Pavarotti Perkins (Thomas Sutcliffe), on a mission to save the brilliant Dolly the Cow (Eloise Runnette) from the Giant (voiced by Mark Meadows) and Fleshcreep (Emma Norman) in Swindon in the Sky.
The entire pantomime is full of fee-fi-fo-fabulous fun from start to finish with musical interludes aplenty. From Dolly Parton’s 9-5 to a panto rendition of Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club, you can’t help but tap your feet along to this show’s score.
Full Company 📸 Pamela Raith
As always, the design of this pantomime is a triumph, the sets are as breathtaking as the costumes are colourful and eccentric. This is no surprise from the award-winning in-house team, who won Best Costume Design for Sleeping Beauty (2024) at the UK Pantomime Association Awards 2025.
Emma Norman 📸 Pamela Raith
Regardless of whether you’re usually a panto fan or not, Wiltshire Creative have crafted a production that ticks all of the boxes with Jack and the Beanstalk. Adding contemporary touches to an age-old tradition, it’s a brilliant night out for all of the family. We’d highly recommend adding a Wiltshire Creative pantomime to your annual Christmas outings.
Tickets start from £18 and the show runs until 11 January 2026. You don’t want to miss this one!