“A vibrant, sharply crafted panto with bold visuals, exceptional music, and standout performances”
I arrived at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith expecting a lively panto, but Jack and the Beanstalk turned out to be far more ambitious. It was a sharply conceived, high energy production that reimagines the familiar tale through a surprisingly effective dystopian lens. The setting of a hyper-strict academy gives the story an intriguing edge, allowing the classic Jack and the Beanstalk narrative to be interwoven within a world ruled by surveillance, obedience, and escalating absurdity. It’s clever, contemporary, and unexpectedly cohesive.
I was also impressed by the way the production radiated confidence. The visuals are deliberately bold, bright, graphic, almost cartoon-like. At the sae time they were executed with a clarity that keeps the stage from becoming chaotic. The musical curation is excellent, drawing on pop, musical theatre, and even a touch of grime. Sitting not far from a group of teenagers who sang along at full volume, I could feel how well the soundtrack was pitched to younger audiences without alienating adults. Their enthusiasm became part of the experience.
The performances are equally strong. The villain is played with just the right amount of theatricality: imposing, ridiculous, and strangely human all at once. Jack is a standout, capturing the jittery optimism of the character with genuine charm. His vocals are impressive throughout, and he even launches into a rap mid-show, delivered with confidence. His sister provides a perfect counterbalance: grounded, capable, and bringing welcome warmth and intelligence to every scene. Together, they anchor the production’s emotional stakes as they navigate both the impossible school and the fantastical beanstalk narrative that emerges from it.
Choreography, pacing, and audience engagement are all handled with precision. The production embraces panto conventions: call-and-response, slapstick disruptions, gleeful “mistakes”, but never at the expense of theatrical quality. The humour lands, the storytelling flows, and the show maintains a remarkable momentum from start to finish.
What impressed me most, though, was how the production balanced spectacle with sincerity. Beneath the glitter, the jokes, and the frenetic energy lies a clear thematic thread about community, courage, and resisting systems that thrive on fear. It gives the show a sense of purpose that elevates it beyond festive entertainment.
By the end, the audience was buzzing. You had adults smiling, and that group of teenagers still singing. Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric is vibrant, sharply made, and musically amazing. It’s the kind of show that reminds you how joyful and how skilfully crafted panto can be when handled with imagination and intent.