Horsham panto performers get dressed up to promote Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk tells the fantastical story of a young village boy’s quest to defeat a cruel giant and save his family.

The production runs from December 8-31 and sees CBBC star Olly Pike in the lead role once again, playing Jack Trott.

The performer is popular with young audiences and has become a familiar face in Horsham’s festive show, having appeared in the pantomime for the past few years.

“This is number four, which is crazy,” says Olly. “My favourite one I’ve done so far is possibly last year’s – Aladdin. They keep getting better each year so hopefully this one will be even better.”

When he’s not performing on stage and screen, Olly works with his company, Pop’n’Olly, which aims to promote LGBT+ equality, diversity and understanding through children’s books and YouTube videos.

The Capitol may seem like a comfortable setting for the hard-working Olly to return to, but that doesn’t mean he can take it easy.

“We do two shows a day and we do it, like, six days a week,” he says, explaining that panto demands consistently energetic performances.

“But it’ll be okay,” he laughs. “I’ll just drink lots of fizzy drinks and eat lots of sweets and I’ll be fine.”

James Fletcher, best known as troubled teenager Dylan in Hollyoaks, will join Olly onstage this year as Jack’s brother, Simple Simon.

He’s eager to play this much more cheerful role.

“I’m looking forward to exercising my funnybone and getting to be silly and muck around,” says James.

“Simple Simon is the jester, the clown, the silly billy, basically the lighthearted relief. Any time the panto may get a little serious, I’ll be there to make sure it’s all laughs again.”

James’ favourite panto routines tend to be ‘slosh scenes’, which can feature pies splatted into faces, fights with washing-up liquid and water pistols squirted into the crowd.

“Anything that makes the audience scream, that’s the most fun,” he says.

Hi-5 presenter Chris Edgerley may provoke a few screams too, but they’ll be of a different kind and accompanied by plenty of boos and hisses.

He plays the giant’s servant Fleshcreep, an arrogant and smarmy baddie who’s out to get Jack.

Chris has played a variety of pantomime roles, including Buttons, Jack, Wishee Washee and Aladdin.

“To go from the good side to the bad side is going to be very exciting,” he says. “It’s going to be much more of a challenge and to have the audience boo me instead of cheer me every time I come on is going to be the polar opposite of what I’m used to.”

Jack may have a formidable foe, but he also has plenty of allies, including the show’s love interest, Princess Apricot.

She’s played by Lauren Osborn who has been a lead vocalist for musician Paul Shapera since 2010 in his New Albion series. She was also lead singer onboard the Sea Princess World Cruise,