Wiltshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-giant-sized-night-out-in-salisbury"><strong>A giant-sized night out in Salisbury</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse.jpg" class="wp-image-39596" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>The panto at Salisbury Playhouse has become something of a legend in Wiltshire (and the Muddy household). Bright, bold and brilliantly bonkers, it’s a guaranteed festive pick-me-up and we couldn’t wait to whizz over there to see whether 2025’s shiny new offering, <em>Jack and the Beanstalk</em>, has the magic touch. Spoiler: we weren’t disappointed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fresh-twist-on-a-family-favourite"><strong>A fresh twist on a family favourite</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith8-1000x667.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse-nick-james-fairy-king.jpg" class="wp-image-39576" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith8-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith8-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith8.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>Written once again by the golden trio Plested, Wilsher and Brown &#8211; who have penned the last four smash-hits at Salisbury Playhouse &#8211; this year’s panto loosely echoes the classic fairy tale. Your hero is Jack Trotter [George Olney], who sets off on a quest to rescue Dolly the Cow from the clutches of the music-hating Giant and his scooter-riding sidekick, Fleshcreep. Throughout the show, good and evil battle it out as Jack, his beloved Jill and Fairy Fabulous join forces on their mission and try to restore the joy of music to Salisburyshire.</p>



<p>If it sounds bonkers, it absolutely is. And delightfully so. From the moment the Fairy King of Rock &#8216;n&#8217; Roll [Nic James] swaggered onto the stage and burst into song, the audience was rapt. With swivelling hips, coiffed hair and a velvety voice, James set the tone perfectly and got everyone firmly into the panto zone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-standout-stars-and-scene-stealing-moments"><strong>Standout stars and scene-stealing moments</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith4.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse george olney.jpg" class="wp-image-39580" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith4-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hats off to the entire cast for their stellar performances, but a special mention has to go to Eloise Runnette, who plays Dolly the Cow. She blasts onto set straight from Nashville, Tennessee, in a whirl of blonde locks, pink sparkles and powerhouse vocals. Her rendition of <em>Nine to Five</em> had the audience whooping, and she brings more than her fair share of laughs to the panto. Likewise, George Olney plays a delightfully loveable Jack Trotter, who impresses with his infectious charm, boundless energy and impressive tap-dancing skills.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-laughter-lyrics-and-a-whole-lot-of-chaos">Laughter, lyrics and a whole lot of chaos</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith5.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse-Fleshcreep-emma-norman.jpg" class="wp-image-39579" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith5-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>The humour is exactly what we’ve come to adore from the panto at Salisbury Playhouse, from local in-jokes to clever wordplay and delicious innuendo. There are enough cheeky winks to get even the grinchiest grownups giggling, and even my too-cool-for-school teen was shaking with laughter. The bonkers moments come thick and fast, from Fleshcreep zooming around on her scooter to a riotous milking-parlour scene and oversized dancing vegetables. The writers spend around 18 months crafting each show, and you can really feel that TLC in every pun and perfectly-pitched belly laugh.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith-1000x667.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse-jill.jpg" class="wp-image-39575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>Musically, this panto is a massive crowd pleaser. Think tunes like <em>Sweet Caroline</em>, <em>Love Machine</em> and <em>Nine to Five</em>, all with big vocals, brilliant harmonies and a live band tying everything together. The dancing is exceptional too. Hats off to swings Bella Donald and Brandon Thompson, whose slick routines add an extra layer of polish to the show. The choreography is tight, joyful and full of personality &#8211; everything you want from a top-tier panto.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-visual-treat-from-start-to-finish">A visual treat from start to finish</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith1.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse-jack-jill.jpg" class="wp-image-39583" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>Visually, <em>Jack and the Beanstalk</em> is a feast, and credit is largely due to costume designer Katie Lias. Last year’s panto at Salisbury Playhouse, <em>Sleeping Beauty</em>, scooped Best Costume Design at the UK Pantomime Association Awards and that legacy continues with an explosion of bold colours, clever quick-changes and fabulously over-the-top outfits. The set design is a triumph too, from the cosy barn to the chaotic milking parlour and erupting beanstalk. Add in snowstorms, pyrotechnics, glitter showers and giant peas pinging into the audience, and it is pure sensory delight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-right-in-the-heart-of-the-action">Right in the heart of the action</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith2.jpg" alt="jack-and-the-beanstalk-panto-salisbury-playhouse-panto-dame.jpg" class="wp-image-39582" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>One of the joys of the panto at Salisbury Playhouse is its intimacy. There are no ‘bad’ seats in the auditorium and you really feel like you’re immersed in the thick of the action. The cast take full advantage of this, with plenty of capers in amongst the crowd, and by the time we reached the classic “he’s behind you” scene, everyone was totally riotous with laughter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-festive-fun-for-all-ages">Festive fun for all ages </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith7.jpg" alt="panto-review-wiltshire-creative.jpg" class="wp-image-39577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith7.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-image-credit-Pamela-Raith7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Pamela Raith</figcaption></figure>



<p>Panto is such a joyful escape &#8211; a chance to let loose, stop taking life quite so seriously and sink into festive madness. And this one? It’s a huge, sparkly dose of feel-good fun for all ages. Will Jack defeat the music-hating Giant? Will Dolly avoid becoming mincemeat? And can the Fairy King of Rock &#8216;n&#8217; Roll restore harmony to Salisburyshire? You’ll have to book Jack and the Beanstalk at Salisbury Playhouse to find out&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict"><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Anyone looking for a festive night of belly laughs, brilliant music and gloriously silly chaos. Kids, teens, grown-ups and grandparents were all roaring with laughter. Heads up: You&#8217;ll find adult-only performances on 18th Dec and 9th Jan, with an extra dollop of mischief. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> With a run time of just over two hours, this panto is recommended for kids aged four plus. </p>



<p><strong><a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jack and the Beanstalk</a></strong> is at Salisbury Playhouse until 11th Jan. Tickets from £18 &#8211; book yours pronto.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more"><strong>IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/december-whats-on-near-you-in-wiltshire-this-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s on in Wiltshire this December</a> </p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/wiltshire-best-pantos-and-festive-shows-near-me-salisbury-warminster-chippenham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best pantomimes and Christmas shows in Wiltshire</a> </p>



<p><a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/tis-the-season-festive-afternoon-teas-to-book-today/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Festive afternoon teas to book today</a> </p>


Panto review: Jack and the Beanstalk at Salisbury Playhouse

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