Full Cast Announced for Jack, Mum and the Beanstalk

07 Dec 2022 | General News

This Christmas, Sam Caseley’s story Jack, Mum & The Beanstalk will excite and inspire young audiences across Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. From Wednesday 7 – Saturday 24 December 2022 this new festive adventure, inspired by the well-known tale ‘Jack and The Beanstalk’, will be on stage in Hull Truck Theatre’s Godber Studio.

Jack, Mum & The Beanstalk is a new piece of work and a festive spectacle for children aged 3+ and their families, told with original music, costume and lighting and set design.

Leading the production as the much-loved Jack, will be Levi Payne (Teechers Leavers ’22), alongside Lucy Litchfield who will be playing Mum and Chicken, and Fred Weeks who will be playing Giant.

Levi Payne is an actor based and born in Doncaster. He trained at the University of Central Lancashire and was a member of the regional young actors’ ensemble with Hull Truck Theatre (2017-2018). Since then, he has worked on a range of Theatre and TV productions, including: Jeckyll & Hyde (Derby Theatres/Queens Theatre Hornchurch); Teechers Leavers ’22 (Hull Truck Theatre); Love Hurts (New Vic Theatre); Mother Courage (Red Ladder) and Brassic, Coronation Street and Pond Life (Open Palm Films). Levi also works as a Youth Theatre Practitioner/Assistant at Cast Doncaster.

Lucy Litchfield is an experienced children’s theatre performer and puppeteer who is originally from Hull. After training at the University of Salford she has predominantly worked in theatre, appearing in Shakespeare productions, pantomimes, and everything in between. Most recently, she appeared as Baby Bear in Moon on a Stick’s puppetry-based show for children, and in Roald Dahl’s The Witches and Revolting Rhymes (The Ruined Theatre). This is Lucy’s first appearance back at Hull Truck Theatre  since she was a member of the Youth Theatre, so she’s particularly pleased to be back home for Christmas.

Fred Weeks is an early career, local performer who Hull Truck audiences may remember from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022) directed by Tom Saunders. Fred also helps run sessions at Hull Truck Theatre as a Youth Theatre Assistant. Fred’s other credits include The Full Monty by One Off Productions at Hull New Theatre.

Tom Saunders, Associate Director at Hull Truck Theatre said:

“I am delighted to be working with Sam Caseley once again to create a magical show for young children at Christmas time. Sam knows how to engage the minds of our creative young audiences and we can’t wait to add a sprinkling of festive cheer to people’s Christmas celebrations this year. In the show, we’ll join Jack on his amazing adventure up the beanstalk… but get ready for a few surprises along the way!”

Audiences might recognise Sam Caseley’s work from Christmas’ of years gone by, where he has written special festive shows for young audiences at Hull Truck Theatre, including The Christmas Ugly Duckling and How To Fly Like A Reindeer.

Sam Caseley, Writer at The Herd, said:

“I can’t wait to share Jack, Mum and the Beanstalk with families at Hull Truck this Christmas. I’ve taken all the best bits of the well-known fairy tale - a young, plucky hero and a wild Giant that lives in the sky - and given the story a bit of a festive update. The show’s going to be a proper adventure, packed with laughs and full of great music, and I’m sure both children and grown-ups are going to love it. Oh, and there’s a talking chicken.”