A treat is in store for young and old alike at the Blackmore Theatre when Exmouth Players present their super family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk from Wednesday, January 16 - Saturday, January 26.

A treat is in store for young and old alike at the Blackmore Theatre when Exmouth Players present their super family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk from Wednesday, January 16 - Saturday, January 26.

Unlike this year's Jack and the Beanstalk at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, Exmouth Players are keeping the traditional principal boy role and Director Mary Mulcahy has cast lovely, leggy Leila Ellis as hero Jack Trott. Simon Blissett is sure to amuse as Dame Trott, Jack's mother, and Marc Blaber will be everyone's mate as Jack's brother Simple Simon.

The young and attractive Alex Griffin plays Jack's true love Princess Eleanor, daughter of King Herbert of Ottertonia (Douglas Gray). She is kidnapped by the evil Al Monella (Tony Christopher) who is henchman of Giant Blunderbore (Ben Lund-Conlan). The fabulous Fairy Columbine is determined to help save the princess. Iris Searle and Phil Cornelius provide a dynamic double act as Ting and Tong and Ruth Tomkins and Jayne Cherry will make a loveable daisy the cow.

There are five delightful dancers, Holly Escott, Toni Jarvis, Vickie Lewis, Shauna Smith and Amber Williamson, and there are a host of charming children in the chorus.

Tickets go on sale at Durawhite Windows, The Strand, Exmouth - telephone (01395) 264408 from 10.30am on Monday, January 7, price £7.50 adults, £4 children under 12.

Roger Simmonds