We meet some of the stars of Jack and the Beanstalk: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto which arrives at Leeds City Varieties from 29th November.
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00:00We're really looking forward to seeing you and rocking out with you all at the City Varieties.
00:04Yeah, and the magical Jack and the Beanstalk.
00:07Running all the way through to the 12th of January.
00:10We can't wait to see you there.
00:15It's the rock and roll panto.
00:17It's got all the elements of a traditional panto,
00:20but the biggest difference is that all the actors are also musicians.
00:24And the rule of thumb is, if you're not acting, you're playing in the band
00:28and the band is situated on the back of the stage,
00:30so we can be seen for the whole show.
00:32And, yeah, if you're in the band, you're playing the sound effects,
00:35you're doing the...
00:37It makes us feel like rock stars as well.
00:39Yeah.
00:40And it kind of helps with the bond of the cast,
00:42cos, like, we are literally a ten-piece band.
00:45So that's, like, a really cool feeling in the show.
00:48You find Jack and his mother in a state of, you know,
00:51they're in arrears with their rent.
00:53The only thing of value that they have in their life
00:56is their beautiful cow Bessie, which they then have to sell.
01:01Jack, as intelligent as he is, swaps the cow for beans.
01:05The magic beans turn into this giant beanstalk,
01:08which takes Jack up to Cloudland, which is where the giant is.
01:13You have a lot more room to play, kind of, even...
01:16Cos pantos, we just have so much more freedom
01:18than we do in, like, a normal theatre production,
01:21so I think that's kind of special,
01:23especially with it being at Christmas as well.
01:25It just feels fun and silly and festive.
01:27The Variety is such a beautiful, intimate space.
01:30You're so close to the audience.
01:32You know, if people are sitting in the boxes,
01:34you can literally touch them from the stage.
01:37It's easy for dames to pick, isn't it?
01:39Yeah.
01:40Pick on people.
01:41Yeah, which I do.
01:42Which she does.
01:43So you have met the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk,
01:45but as well as our rock and roll panto over at City Varieties,
01:48there's so much going on at our venues for Christmas.
01:50If you wanted to see Northern Ballet's A Christmas Carol
01:52right here at Leeds Grand Theatre,
01:53or if you wanted to go to Hyde Park Picturehouse
01:55to see your favourite festive films,
01:57there are so many ways to get in the festive spirit this year
01:59with us at Leeds Heritage Theatres.