REVIEW - 'Jack and the Beanstalk', Louth Playgoers, Riverhead Theatre, Friday 9th - Sunday 18th January 2026 - ****
- theatrereviews
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Pantomime is back at Louth Riverhead Theatre, and Jack and the Beanstalk is a bright, lively pantomime that delivers hearty laughs, musical sparkle and plenty of family fun.
The production is powered by a strong central cast and a slick blend of traditional panto with contemporary flair. Emma Wighton, returning from playing the principal lead in last year’s Dick Whittington, is endearing and, again, vocally talented as Jack, with an early thigh-slap on her initial entrance, while Michael Courtney brings his assured, professional, panto ‘clout’ of over 30 years to the role of Simple Simon. With Cheryl Lamming’s marvellous villain, this trio of performers heap on the energy and deliver the show’s standout numbers.
We’ve been treated to a plethora of different Dames in 2025 and 2026. From Kei Bailey’s cuddlesome campery to Ian Norton catty show-off. Here, Derek Hodges makes a memorable Dame Trott, handling cheeky asides with confidence while delivering a more lugubrious, “been there, done that” dame with effective touches of genuine pathos. In a panto bouncing with overt frivolity, Hodges’ performance is a big success.
Newcomer Precious Stewart-Coates makes an impression as the Princess Gillian (Jack and Gill, geddit?) and her opening number of Act 2, performed with a delightful ballet from Studio 2000, is one of the greatest moments, while Laura Harris returns as the Fairy, bringing a bucketful of charm in a vibrant green fairy outfit, complete with Leek Accessory. The Ensemble, who cover everything from insolent guards to the famous cow, are a welcome return to the RT stage.
The theatre has recently splashed out on a new high-tech video screen. Replacing traditional backdrops, this use of CGI cleverly supports the traditional set pieces. It’s colourful, all-encompassing and gives the show a more contemporary feel. The lighting and sound, both designed by Michael Courtney (who also co-directed with Richard Precious, and wrote the show’s Act 1 closing singalong Up, Up, Up the Beanstalk) is strong, with the band, Studio 2000, backstage and tech teams deserving additional praise for delivering a constantly entertaining, slick, professional show.
While the overall script is largely sharp, there are occasional patches where the humour stutters (the school scene), or the numbers don’t pop as perhaps intended. There’s a totally incongruous puppetry song, but it’s charming nonetheless and these moments don’t derail the production, but they do prevent it from achieving the high bar set by Aladdin in 2025. The production seems to have been suffering from an identity crisis, with some marketing promoting it as a Riverhead Rep production, while most tie it to Louth Playgoers. Outwardly, of course, it doesn’t really matter, a Jack and the Beanstalk is a delight for families, offering a warm, colourful start to the year and once again showcasing the town’s flair for community theatre that feels both polished and genuinely joyful.
'Jack and the Beanstalk' is playing at Louth Riverhead Theatre on Wednesday 14th - Sunday 18th January, at various times (including matinees). You can purchase tickets via the link below:
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