Familiar Faces Return as Wiltshire Creative Announce Panto Cast

Friday, 19 September 2025 05:55

There are several familiar faces in the cast for Wiltshire Creative's 2025 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

A certain gardener from Alderbury returns following his dramatic introduction during last year's production of Sleeping Beauty, as Prince Tony becomes Fairy Fabulous, the Fairy King of Rock and Roll. The two onstage swings, Bella Donald and Brandon Thompson, also make a welcome return.

Another returnee is George Olney, last seen on stage at Salisbury Playhouse in the production of A Chorus of Disapproval (2024), as well as appearing in the 2022/23 panto, Cinderella, as the prince.

Gareth Machin, Artistic Director of Wiltshire Creative and Director of Jack and the Beanstalk, said, “What a fantastic cast we’ve brought together. I can’t wait to welcome back so many familiar faces and to say hello to some wonderful actors joining us for the first time”.

Wiltshire Creative is once again inviting us to Salisburyshire for what they describe as a giant musical pantomime!

We are told to expect colourful costumes and songs full of pop; it promises festive delight for all the family.

The audience, along with the cast, will embark on an awesome adventure as Jack sets out on a daring mission to rescue Dolly the Cow.

Can our happy-go-lucky hero triumph over the music-hating Giant?

Can he and the Fairy Fabulous King of Rock and Roll restore the joy of singing to Salisburyshire? And will Jack ever win Jill’s heart?

This classic tale will be sprinkled with Salisbury magic by the writers and designers of last year’s award-winning pantomime, Sleeping Beauty (Best Costume Design, UK Pantomime Association Awards 2025). Make your festive season sparkle with fee-fi-fo family fun!

Wiltshire Creative's Artistic Director, Gareth Machin, returns as the Panto's director with the script again written by Clare Plested, Adam Brown and Amanda Wilshe, a comedy team with over 20 years of writing, directing and performing comedy theatre. Together they have written the last three pantos for Salisbury Playhouse, with rave reviews of each one of those shows.

Full cast:

Cast: George Olney (Jack), Nic James (Fairy Fabulous), Isabella Mason (Jill), Emma Norman (Fleshcreep), Eloise Runnette (Dolly the Cow), Dan Smith (Dame Caroline Trotter), Thomas Sutcliffe (Pavarotti Perkins), Bella Donald (Onstage Swing), Brandon Thompson (Onstage Swing).

Writers: Plested, Brown and Wilsher; Director: Gareth Machin; Designer: Katie Lias; Lighting Designer: Nic Farman; Sound Designer: Michael Scott; Choreographer: Julia Cave, Musical Director: Daniel Looseley, Casting Director: Natalie Gallacher CDG.

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