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Jack & The Beanstalk
Added: (Fri Oct 28 2005)
For Immediate Release
Probably…the best panto in the world!
Press Night - Wednesday 7th December
Following universal acclaim and the box office breaking run of last year’s ALADDIN, the Hackney Empire returns with its biggest and baddest panto production to date, Jack and the Beanstalk!
The cast is headed by the ever popular and much loved Clive Rowe, who received rave reviews for his role as Widow Twanky last year, Tameka Empson returns as Off Her Trolley Molly and newcomer to the Hackney Empire, Matt Dempsey, plays Jack. Once again the ‘doyenne’ of the panto world Susie McKenna is in the director’s chair and has rewritten the tale to give it a contemporary twist. Last year’s panto was one of the most technologically advanced around (Remember that magic carpet??) and the wonderful score to the tale of hapless Jack has been composed and directed by Steven Edis, whilst the choreography is by Carl Parris, another of the regular Hackney team.
The Hackney Empire panto gives audiences great value, with West End quality for East End prices (tickets from £8.50). The Empire’s Jack and the Beanstalk is freshly written and conceived … unlike a certain other panto back on the scene again this year...The Empire’s gives its audience twice the dame at half the price!
The story of hapless Jack, the magic beans, the castle in the clouds, the golden hen, singing harp and Jack’s encounter with Giant Blunderbore has enthralled generations over the years. Add to these potent ingredients, thrilling adventure, knockabout comedy, great musical numbers, masses of audience participation, the most spectacular animatronic giant you have ever seen on stage oh, and Buttercup the amazing tap dancing cow – and you have the perfect treat for all the family.
Susie McKenna is no newcomer to the “It’s behind you” jokes having been an important figure in pantomime for 25 years from starting out as the principal boy at the Nottingham Playhouse through to directing the Empire’s panto since 1994. She is an ardent defender of traditional pantomime values – the story is paramount and she casts top West End performers whose primary talents are acting, singing and dancing rather than bitching on Big Brother or flirting on Celebrity Love Island! As well as writing and directing Jack and the Beanstalk Susie is also performing alongside Michael Kirk as Runner Bean and Broad Bean as the Tenardiers of pantomime.
Clive Rowe shot to fame in the 1990’s receiving an Olivier nomination for his role in Carousel and a year later won the Award for Best Supporting Actor in Guys & Dolls. More recently Clive has appeared in the Young Vic Production Simply Heavenly, the West End production of As You Like It and earlier this year completed filming Manderlay (directed by Lars Von Trier). Clive has appeared in every Hackney Empire pantomime since 1998 and is one of the best-loved Dames around. This year audiences can look forward to Clive’s turn as Nigella Awesome!
Tameka Empson received great acclaim for her role as the Genie Of The Ring last year “gorgeously funny” (The Independent), she also recently won plaudits for her role in The Big Life (Stratford East and West End). Tameka is well known to TV audiences for her role as one third of the Three Non Blondes (BBC). Matt Dempsey is no stranger to stage or screen having played the role of Robert in De Lovely and has been a regular on the national theatre circuit including The Witches of Eastwick (West End). Matt has known Susie for many years from writing fan mail to her when he was a young lad and also appearing with her in the Witches of Eastwick. One of his childhood dreams has now been achieved – a lead role in a McKenna pantomime!
The cast also includes Michael Kirk as the evil Broad Bean, Terel Nugent as Billy, John Barr as the Snowman, singing sensation Sharon D Clark as Davina the Diva Harp, Cavin Cornwall as the voice of the Giant and rising star Rachel Matthews as Sweet Pea.
The performances begin on 2nd December - 7th January. PRESS NIGHT IS WEDNESDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2005. Tickets are from £8:50 through to £18.50 with concessions for school/youth groups and other groups.
Box Office – +44 (0)20 8985 2424 www.hackneyempire.co.uk