One of Swanage Drama Company’s best known faces is back on stage this year – Oh, yes he is! – as the cast of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk gets ready to open at The Mowlem.
Brian Travers was one of Cinderella’s ugly sisters in the very first panto Swanage Drama Company performed back in 1999, and he’s played either the dame or the villain almost every year since.
Rehearsals have moved from Swanage Bay View to The Mowlem as curtain up approaches. Left to right: David Wellstead-Arnold, Brian Travers, Hannah Chelton and Rosie Deane
Principal actors in Jack and the Beanstalk take their direction and practice their moves. Left to right: Laura Jolly, Anthony Ayles and Brian Travers
Curtain up is nearly here
After taking a backstage role in 2024’s production of Cinderella, Brian is once again very much centre stage as Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk, trying to keep her two unruly sons under control.
After four months of rehearsals at Swanage Bay View, the cast is now putting the finishing touches to their performance at The Mowlem, under director Victoria Jones – which means that curtain up is nearly here!
A technical rehearsal and a full dress rehearsal are planned in the week ahead of the first night on Friday 10th January 2025, with matinee and evening performances on Saturday 11th January 2025.
There are also evening performances on Friday 17th January 2025, and on Saturday 18th January 2025, with an extra matinee on the Saturday – and with tickets selling fast, people are advised to book quickly to get the better seats.
Jack, played by Hannah Chelton, alongside love interest Jill Fumble-Trumpet, played by Rosie Deane
Jack and the Beanstalk principals at a ‘meet the cast’ morning at Ulwell Holiday Park before Christmas
“Cheer up the dismal days of January”
Hannah Chelton, who is playing the principal role of Jack, said:
“We are now down to our last few rehearsals, and I am so excited about it! I love panto, I really do, and while it might be a bit nerve wracking we are all ready to perform in front of an audience, and to get the interaction with them which makes pantomime so special.
“We are just a group of people who adore doing what we do and bringing joy to the people of Swanage. We are not paid, we do this for fun and the love of it. We just want to cheer up the dismal days of January for the town!
“It is wonderful that we have Brian back on stage as Dame Trott, even though he was still very much involved with the company working behind the scenes over the last few years. There are quite a few costume changes for him and he is in quite a few songs with some surprises along the way, which I can’t spoil!
“The company has been running since 1999 and some of the members, like Brian, have been with us right from the start. Our principals rehearse together three times a week, the chorus rehearses every week, and you see each others’ faces so often that they become like an extended family.”
A handful of magic beans provided by Fairy Lights, played by Becky Stares
A giant beanstalk beckons
With 25 chorus members and 11 principals, in addition to all those who do lots of work backstage and behind the scenes, Swanage Drama Company has a wealth of talent to draw on and there’s some new faces joining the chorus to give a new impetus to the company.
Swanage pantomimes are performed in rotation, with a pool of eight pantos written and ready to go, so the 2026 production is already confirmed as the magical tale of Aladdin.
But for 2025, a giant beanstalk beckons, and Jack and Dame Trott are joined by Anthony Ayles as Jack’s brother Simple Simon – who gets his name because he is always doing something wrong.
Squire Fumble-Trumpet played by David Wellstead-Arnold (right) receives some unwelcome attention from Dame Trott played by Brian Travers (left)
The Big Unfriendly Giant
Their mean hearted landlord is Squire Fumble-Trumpet, played by David Wellstead-Arnold, who is intent on getting money out of the Trott family even though they don’t have two beans to rub together.
Also returning to the stage is Rosie Deane playing the squire’s niece Jill, who is Jack’s love interest – although the squire is dead set against any talk of marriage for the couple.
Becky Stares plays Fairy Lights, who may be responsible for Jack’s magic beans. The giant – big but definitely not friendly – is played by James Chelton and his wife Mrs Blunderbore by Ro Smith.
The giants not only own a magic harp but also Gertie, the goose who lays golden eggs, played by Laura Jolly. Oh, and watch out for a mooving performance from Gorgonzola the cow delivered by Megan Coward and Keren Campbell!
Gorgonzola the Cow is played udderly brilliantly by Megan Coward and Keren Campbell
“You never know what will happen”
Hannah Chelton said:
“We have some fantastic costumes made by the very talented Mary Buck – the cow and the goose are going to look amazing and we are really excited for people to meet Gorgonzola and Gertie.
“Our show’s songs will include some from musical theatre, some by popular artists and some which have definitely had a change of lyrics to give them a very Swanage flavour.
“There are jokes galore, as well as some topical references to Swanage and the local area and you never know what will happen on the night – I’m sure there will be some jokes which aren’t scripted.
“The great thing about panto is that we might have the script but adlibbing also comes into it – and we have some fantastic adlibbers in the cast this year!”
Anthony Ayles plays loveable Simple Simon, Jack’s brother
Further information
- Book your tickets for the panto on The Mowlem’s website
- All the very latest news from Swanage Drama Company is on its Facebook page
