Devon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT/WHERE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg" alt="Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller" class="wp-image-82775" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Craig Fuller </figcaption></figure>



<p>Odds are definitely in their favour as it&#8217;s the ever-popular Le Navet Bête who have returned to create <em><a href="https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jack and the Beanstalk</a></em>, a new panto for 2025. The epic trio are known for their comedic clowning and family-friendly performances, and are based in Exeter, while also touring nationally. This year&#8217;s panto is a co-production with Exeter Northcott, a 450+ seat auditorium based at the Streatham Campus of University of Exeter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<p>The atmosphere was fantastic before the show even began. A lovely mix of ages, including groups, families and couples, were clearly all in the mood for a spot of traditional comedic fun. The inevitable audience interaction was not just expected, but clearly highly anticipated judging on the happy pre-show buzz.&nbsp; </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-stage-set">THE STAGE SET</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Al-Dunn-as-Jack-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg" alt="Al Dunn as Jack Credit Craig Fuller" class="wp-image-82776" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Al-Dunn-as-Jack-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Al-Dunn-as-Jack-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Al-Dunn-as-Jack-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Al-Dunn-as-Jack-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Not for the vertiginous &#8211; Al Dunn as the beanstalk-clambering Jack / Credit Craig Fuller</figcaption></figure>



<p>The staging and sets were bright and brilliantly designed to enable the upbeat cast to perform the physical comedy for which Le Navet Bête are known. Jack (played by Al Dunn) climbed not only the beanstalk, but also the entire set in his efforts to heroically reach the land of the Giant at the top of the beanstalk. He wasn&#8217;t the only one air-bound as Bella the cow rather surprisingly also shot joyously up into the air at one point and all while singing full throttle. Most impressive.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cast">THE CAST</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="957" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1.jpg" alt="Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1" class="wp-image-82778" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1-800x510.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1-1000x638.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Cast-©-Craig-Fuller-1-768x490.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Craig Fuller </figcaption></figure>



<p>The Northcott’s do excellent work in, and for, the local community as it&#8217;s a registered charity which works hard to encourage creativity within the South West. So perhaps no surprise then that the panto also featured a couple of youngsters grabbing their first chance to step out onto the boards in front of a doubtless dauntingly large audience. Not that there was even a spark of nerves from either of tonight&#8217;s young cast members who were both excellent as a little pig and the golden egg laying hen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-feel">LOCAL FEEL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667.jpg" alt="Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667" class="wp-image-82780" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-Nick-Bunt-as-Silly-Billy-and-Jodie-Micciche-as-Jill-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Molly Cheesley as Bella-the-Cow, Nick Bunt as Silly Billy and Jodie Micciche as Jill / Credit Craig-Fuller</figcaption></figure>



<p>The panto was firmly embedded in our locality.  Numerous local themes, hilarious ‘adverts’ for the show&#8217;s sponsors and frequent friendly football rivalry all aboounded, with the baddie’s fondness for the Green Army garnering many boos from the local footie fans! I overheard one young visitor quite concerned for the welfare of the people of Exeter when they were threatened by the Giant&#8217;s wicked plans,&nbsp;‘Daddy! You’d lose your job!’</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-costumes-nbsp">COSTUMES&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667.jpg" alt="Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667" class="wp-image-82770" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Aaron-Dart-as-Fleshcreep-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aaron Dart bringing on the baddie boos as Fleshcreep / Credit Craig Fuller</figcaption></figure>



<p>Costumes were as fabulous as we’ve come to expect. Fleshcreep, the pantomime baddie, looked outstanding in sparkly green and with more than a little nod to <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-highlights">HIGHLIGHTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1-1000x667" class="wp-image-82773" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/12/Matt-Freeman-as-Dame-Trott-and-Molly-Cheesley-as-Bella-the-Cow-in-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-©-Craig-Fuller-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Matt Freeman as Dame Trott and Molly Cheesley as Bella the Cow / Credit Craig Fuller</figcaption></figure>



<p>The show was stolen by the sheer gloriousness and subversive innuendo-fuelled silliness of Matt Freeman as the Panto Dame Mrs Trott, who was all gravity-defying wigs and excellent stunt work. Hats off for that magnificent balloon basket outfit worn while on stilts! The Giant himself was a triumph of puppetry. I won’t spoil the surprise, but suffice to say you’d certainly notice if he was <em>behind you</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p>The audience were kept firmly in on the jokes, many of which were wonderfully risqué. Next time, an adults-only performance is definitely in order to see just how scandalous they can get!&nbsp;The adult evenings were so popular last year that they have four planned for this season,&nbsp;which runs until Sun 4 Jan. Tickets are selling faster than you say &#8220;<em>Mother I&#8217;m home &#8211; and you won&#8217;t believe what I&#8217;ve bought</em>!&#8221; Get booking if you’re up for a giggle.</p>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> going early to bring on the festive mood; getting close to the action thanks to an extra row of seats, right at the front, book row JJ. </p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: under 5s; Plymouth Argyle fans. </p>



<p><strong>The damage</strong>: <span>Tickets £21.50 &#8211; £75.00, Under 16s £2 off, U26 Membership tickets available on Thu 27 &amp; Fri 28 Nov and Tue 2 – Fri 5 Dec.</span></p>



<p><span><a style="font-weight: bold;font-style: italic" href="https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jack and the Beanstalk</a><i style="font-weight: bold">, Exeter Northcott Thu 11 Dec 2025 &#8211; Sun 04 Jan 2026. </i><span style="font-weight: 600"><i>Suitable</i></span><i style="font-weight: bold"> for aged 5+. </i></span></p>


Theatre review: Jack and the Beanstalk at Exeter Northcott

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