St Helens Theatre Royal's Streamed Pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk Is Returning Live On Stage

LEADING Panto Producers, Regal Entertainments have announced they are bringing back their recent successful online panto to the stage at:- St Helens Theatre Royal, to be enjoyed by audiences and performed LIVE on stage.

The lavish fairy tale production of Jack and the Beanstalk will be live at the theatre for 15 performances, from Thursday, 21 October, Sunday, 31 October 2021, and tickets are now on sale!

A cast of St Helens Theatre Royal favourites are coming together again to perform in the family favourite.

Timothy Lucas will reprise his role of Jack, Catherine Cunningham as Mrs Fleshcreep, Olivia Sloyan as Princess Jill, Reece Sibbald as Simple Simon, Mark 2 as Dame Trott, and Jenna Sian O'Hara as Fairy Mary.

The creative team includes:- Director Chantelle Nolan, Musical Supervisor Callum Clarke, Choreography by Nazene Langfield, and Written by Reece Sibbald.

Jack and the Beanstalk tells the rags to riches story of a boy who sells the family's cow for a handful of beans, getting him into a lot of trouble with his poor mother. But the story takes a magical twist when the beans sprout into a magnificent beanstalk that reaches up to a mystical land high in the sky.

Audiences will join Jack on his gigantic journey up the beanstalk as he discovers geese with golden eggs, a magic harp, and not forgetting a close encounter with a very hungry giant. But Jack needs to tread carefully, as the villainous Mrs Fleshcreep is hot on his heels, determined to stop him.

Theatre Manager Chantelle Nolan said:- "It's not long now before we allow our family audiences back in to the theatre to watch our spectacular pantomimes, we can't wait. We had so much fun creating the lavish production of Jack and the Beanstalk over Easter, so much so, that we will bring it back for October ˝ Term. Some of our audience members may have watched and enjoyed it online, now they have the chance to see it live at the theatre. But we also want to make sure that those who didn't manage to catch it, can now see it live. There is no feeling like live theatre, the overall experience of going to a theatre to watch a show is unbeatable; Pantomime is an interactive show in its traditions and we are ready to welcome back our panto audiences."

You may have seen it online, but now you can see it LIVE!! Tickets can be booked online via:- StHelensTheatreRoyal.Com.
 

Judy and Liza Musical To Entertain North West Audiences As Part Of New UK Tour
Photograph by Andrew AB...

THE acclaimed Judy and Liza Musical will bring the real life story of mother and daughter stars:- Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, to audiences to venues across the North West in the coming weeks.

The sensational production, starring West End stars Emma Dears and Helen Sheals, will be staged at Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, on Friday, 4 June 2021! It tells the turbulent tale of 2 of Hollywood's biggest female stars, set against the backdrop of their infamous 1964 London Palladium concert.

The North West dates are part of a new UK tour to mark the 10th Anniversary of the dazzling show, which opened last week in Worcester, Leeds and Chesterfield.

The tour, 1 of the 1st to be confirmed for indoor venues after the easing of lockdown restrictions, will also visit:- Lytham St Annes, New Brighton, London, Brighton, Coventry, Clwyd, Lichfield and Manchester, from May to July 2021.

The show is 1 of the 1st to tour the UK post lockdown. Social distancing and any further required measures will be in place to ensure Covid secure environments for audience safety.

It will also tour in October 2021, with dates to be announced soon.

Judy and Liza is produced by Bill Elms Productions and On Song Productions and created and written by West End performer Emma Dears who appears as Liza Minnelli. Francis Goodhand is musical director.

Emma performs alongside Helen Sheals, who plays Judy Garland. Together they deliver timeless classics with uncanny resemblance of Judy and Liza, bursting with their unrivalled and elusive star quality.

Audiences are taken on an emotional rollercoaster journey as they discover the uncanny parallels between some of Judy and Liza's most iconic songs and their own personal lives.

The show features performances of iconic songs including:- Cabaret, Maybe This Time, Over The Rainbow, The Man That Got Away, The Trolley Song, and Together Wherever We Go.

Liverpool born actress Emma Dears self penned the musical biopic to critical acclaim. Emma's acting career began at the age of nine when she toured the UK in the title role of Annie. She later headed to London to join the Italia Conti Academy for Performing Arts, however she left before completing the course as she was offered a part in the tour of Les Miserables performing, in Dublin and Edinburgh. Emma's West End roles have included:- Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Oliver. Television roles include:- Emmerdale, Nice Guy Eddie, Shameless, Hollyoaks, Brookside, and Second Coming.

Helen Sheals is widely known for her roles in both:- Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. However, Helen is no stranger to portraying Judy Garland having previously played the title role in the West End musical Judy! at The Arts Theatre in London. Her extensive theatre roles have included Mistress Quickly in Merry Wives and Goneril in King Lear for Northern Broadsides, directed by Sir Jonathan Miller; Mari Hoff in:- 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice' (Hull Truck and UK Tour); and 'Shirley Valentine.' Helen's TV credits include:- Brookside, Meterosexuality, Family Affairs, Last Tango in Halifax, Silent Witness, Holby City, Casualty, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Mrs Wigan in 3 seasons of Downton Abbey.

Producer Bill Elms said:- "I'm really delighted that North West audiences are going to have the chance to see this fantastic show as part of its 10th anniversary tour. The response to the news that Judy and Liza is going out on the road has been amazing, with London dates being sold out very quickly. For many of the theatres we visit, this will be their 1st show of the year coming out of lockdown. We can promise audiences a safe and very memorable experience as they rediscover the joy of live entertainment through this captivating show."

Writer and actress Emma Dears added:- "As performers we crave being in front of a live audience, seeing, hearing and feeling their reactions, so this week's confirmation that venues can reopen their doors, since 17 May 2021 is fantastic. The show is full of love, heartache, and passion, and Helen and I have worked tirelessly to make sure we get every tiny detail just right."

To find out more visit:- JudyAndLiza.Co.UK.  The Merseyside stop for the tour is at the Floral Pavilion, in New Brighton, Wirral, on Friday, 4 June 2021 at:- 2.30pm and at:- 7.30pm. For more information and tickets visit:- FloralPavilion.com or call:- 01516660000.