FRI 27 NOV 2026 – SUN 3 JAN 2027
WRITTEN BY CHRIS JARVIS
DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY KEVAN ALLEN
The Arts Theatre is thrilled to announce the principal cast for this year’s spectacular Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.
Matt Crosby will star as Dame Trott. Last year Crosby celebrated twenty years performing in The Arts Theatre Cambridge pantomimes and subsequently received a nomination for ‘Best Dame’ at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026.
Steven Roberts returns to star as Jack Trott, marking his fourth Arts Theatre pantomime. Previous roles include Happy Harry (Sleeping Beauty 2025/26), Silly Sammi (Mother Goose 2023/24) and his UK Pantomime Award-winning performance as Wicked Stepsister Tess in Cinderella 2024/25 alongside Harry Howle.
Joining Crosby and Roberts are a host of world-class performers. Actress, comic artist and writer Jessica Martin will star as the evil Fleshcreep, fresh off the back of her role as Roz in the 9 to 5 the Musical UK tour.
Zweyla Michell Dos Santos will star as Princess Jilly, who is currently starring in Shakespeare’s Globe production A World Elsewhere at the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse.
Emma Williams will star as Fairy Sunshine, who has most recently completed the UK tour of Top Hat where she played Madge Hardwick.
Completing the cast is Stuart Simons as Merlin the Wizard. Simons starred in The Arts Theatre’s 2023/24 pantomime Cinderella as Baron Hardup.
The Trott family are down on their luck and struggling to make ends meet. After selling the beloved family cow Daisy for a handful of magic beans, Jack’s world is turned upside down when he discovers an enormous beanstalk has sprouted outside his window! Can he climb through the clouds, defeat the fearsome giant and save the people of Cambridge?
The Arts Theatre Cambridge won ‘Best Pantomime (550-900 seats)’ at the 2026 UK Pantomime Awards for the 2025/26 pantomime Sleeping Beauty. The Arts Theatre team also celebrated nominations for ‘Best Choreography’ (Kevan Allen) and ‘Best Dame’ (Matt Crosby).
Chris Jarvis, celebrated Cbeebies and BBC actor, presenter and writer has written the script. Appearing on screens in the early 1990s on children’s television, Jarvis presented alongside names like Zoe Ball and Dominic Wood. Jarvis was part of the original CBeebies presenters in 2007 and has performed and written numerous TV shows since. Since 1995 Jarvis has written pantomimes for both stage and screen and returns to The Arts Theatre team after writing the 2025/26 Sleeping Beauty script.
Jack and the Beanstalk is directed and choreographed by Kevan Allen. Jack and the Beanstalk will mark Kevan Allen’s directorial debut for The Arts Theatre after being the resident choreographer for over a decade.
Jack and the Beanstalk opens on Friday 27 November 2026 and runs until Sunday 3 January 2027.
For more information and ticket prices visit www.artstheatre.co.uk
