Pantomime favourite Ben Harlow to star as Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk at Blackpool Grand Theatre
Blackpool Grand Theatre has announced the return of pantomime favourite Ben Harlow.
Blackpool Grand Theatre has announced the return of pantomime favourite Ben Harlow, who will star as Dame Trott in this year's festive production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
The brand-new pantomime runs from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 and marks the return of Jack and the Beanstalk to The Grand for the first time in more than 20 years.
Martin Dodd, Producer for UK Productions, said: “Ben Harlow is exactly the kind of performer you want at the heart of a great family pantomime. He has that rare mix of proper stage craft, huge comedy instinct and genuine warmth, and Blackpool audiences already know just how brilliantly he connects with them.
“We are thrilled to welcome him back to The Grand. This production of Jack and the Beanstalk is being created on a truly spectacular scale, with wonderful performers, beautiful design, big laughs, magical effects and the quality audiences have come to expect from UK Productions.
“With Ben returning, Steve Royle causing absolute mayhem, Lisa George bringing such charm and presence, and a terrific creative team behind the scenes, this is going to be a giant of a show in every sense.”
Ben, who previously appeared as Widow Twankey in Aladdin in 2023, will join a cast led by Coronation Street star Lisa George as the Spirit of the Beans and award-winning comedian Steve Royle as Silly Simon.
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Andrew Howard, Head of Audience, Marketing and Sales at Blackpool Grand Theatre, said: “Pantomime at The Grand is more than a show. For so many families it is the moment Christmas really begins.
“We see grandparents bringing grandchildren, parents remembering the first time they came here as children, school groups arriving wide-eyed in the foyer, and families who have made this theatre part of their festive story for generations.
“That is what makes Ben’s return so special. Audiences remember performers who make them feel something, and Ben has that wonderful ability to make a huge theatre feel personal, funny and full of heart.
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“With Steve and Lisa alongside him, and with the scale and imagination of this production, Jack and the Beanstalk is going to be one of those Christmas memories people talk about long after the decorations have come down.”
Presented by Martin Dodd for UK Productions Ltd in association with Blackpool Grand Theatre, the production promises comedy, magic, 3D effects, dazzling costumes and spectacular sets.
Tickets start from £18, with accessible performances including audio-described, signed and relaxed shows. The pantomime is recommended for audiences aged three and over.