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Jack and the Beanstalk at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Opens to Packed Houses!

West Yorkshire’s biggest pantomime, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, opened last Saturday to packed houses and will run for the next 5 weeks at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford. The cast is led by Yorkshire’s king of comedy Billy Pearce as Jack, Strictly Come Dancing’s Lisa Riley as The Spirit of the Beans, Only Fools and Horses’ John Challis as Fleshcreep, and Jake Canuso in the role of Benny Dorm.

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Multi award-winner Billy has won just about every comedy award going, including a British Comedy Award, Solo Comedian of the Year, Best Television Comedy Newcomer, and most recently he has recently been awarded for services to arts and entertainment at the Yorkshire Awards, previously won by the Kaiser Chiefs and Alan Ayckbourn. Billy has performed in five children’s Royal Variety shows and three Royal Variety shows. Lisa entertained millions during her ten weeks in the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing with her dance partner Robin Windsor. She first became a household name in the role of Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, a part she played for over seven years, winning numerous awards including Most Popular Newcomer, Funniest Person in Soap and Most Popular Young Achiever.   John’s theatre and television work spans fifty years, initially in theatre with companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. His television career has seen him play the hugely-popular character Boycie in both Only Fools and Horses and then in his own spin-off series The Green Green Grass, which ran for four years. Jake is best known for his role as Mateo in the hugely-successful ITV comedy series Benidorm. Jake’s other television credits include Splash!, Hustle, Shameless, The Hour and Bad Education. Jake started his career as a dancer and, at the tender age of 16, became the youngest member of Zurich’s leading contemporary dance company.   Billy, Lisa, John and Jake are joined by established pantomime dame and musical theatre actor, Adam Stafford as Dame Trot and Sarah Vaughan, as Princess Apricot. Adam’s West End credits include playing Amos Hart in Chicago and Sir Bedevere in Spamalot; and Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast on the UK national tour. Adam returns to the Alhambra Theatre after playing Dame Betty Blumenthal in last year’s panto. Sarah’s performance credits include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance; and in 2009 she represented Ireland in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, returning home with seven gold and four silver medals.   If this all-star cast wasn’t enough, the production is also packed with an ensemble cast of performers and dancers, a live band and the traditional juvenile dance troupe, The Sunbeams, who appear on stage courtesy of Sara Packham’s Theatre School based in Cullingworth, Keighley; plus…. ground-breaking special effects once again take centre stage. Over the past four years, audiences coming to the Alhambra Theatre pantomime have been treated to an array of show-stopping effects, created by The Twins FX. This year is no exception as real life twins, Gary and Paul Hardy-Brown, have created a towering, mighty beanstalk, along with a very unique way of getting Jack to the top of it – a helicopter which flies over the heads of the audience below!   Unmissable 3D spectacle also returns to the Alhambra Theatre pantomime in the form of a journey through the Giant's castle, where the audience meet Giant Blunderbore himself! It was at the Alhambra Theatre nine years ago that pantomime producers, Qdos Entertainment, first featured ground-breaking 3D as part of their shows. Since then the technology behind 3D graphics has been made even more sophisticated to ensure audiences will be on the edge of their seats!   “The spectacular special effects… were worthy of any West End show.” Telegraph & Argus   “…this is pantomime at its most spectacular” Yorkshire Post   Be amongst the first to see the Alhambra Theatre’s giant adventure pantomime – it’s a spectacular treat for the family this festive season! And if you don’t fancy doing the washing up, why not eat with us here at the Alhambra Theatre – you can book a table pre evening or post matinee show in the Alhambra Theatre’s Restaurant 1914 (children can eat for only £4.50!) – call Hospitality on 01274 431052.   Jack and the Beanstalk is staged by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s largest pantomime producer. Jack and the Beanstalk - Alhambra Theatre, Bradford Runs until Sunday 24 January 2016 Relaxed Performance - Tuesday 12 January 2016 at 2pm