Bucks &amp; Oxon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg" alt="Jack and the Beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside panto 2025 " class="wp-image-200160" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



I’ll kick off this review with the slightly Scroogey admission that I am not “a panto person”. Despite <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/xmas/christmas-panto-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">panto</a> being a great British <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/xmas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas</a> tradition, I’ve sat through enough groan-worthy productions in the past to come to the ‘bah humbug’ conclusion that I’m perhaps not their target audience. 



As such, I took a panto-loving pal along to <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk-pantomime/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Jack and the Beanstalk </a>at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre this week to balance out my potential surliness, but it turns that out I needn’t have worried. After 15 minutes or so of getting into the innuendo and audience participation swing once the curtain went up, I was wowed. The wit! The glitz! The topical references! Jack and the Beanstalk delivers joy in spades, as well as some very clever new 3D special effects. Grab your 3D glasses (included with your ticket), we’re heading up the beanstalk.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1229" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-.jpg" alt="Emma Crossley as Jill Pickle, Joe Sleight as Jack Trott, Jack and the beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside" class="wp-image-200163" style="aspect-ratio:1.6260162601626016;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside--800x492.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside--1000x615.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside--400x246.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-Jil-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside--1536x944.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Emma Crossley as Jill Pickle, Joe Sleight as Jack Trott</figcaption></figure>



You know the plot: poor boy Jack trades the family cow for some magic beans, cue a beanstalk springing up which he subsequently climbs, only to encounter a hungry giant in situ at the top. There’s much panic before the eventual burglary of a chicken who lays a golden egg, making Jack and his family rich. Jack opts to cut down the beanstalk to put an end to the giant, and that’s pretty much your lot. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1318" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg" alt="Joe Sleight and ensemble Jack and the Beanstalk panto" class="wp-image-200164" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-800x527.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-1000x659.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-400x264.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Joe-Sleight-and-ensemble-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-Aylesbury-Waterside-1536x1012.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Joe Sleight and ensemble</figcaption></figure>



Jack is played by the elfin, boyband-ish Joe Sleight in Aylesbury Waterside’s production, and while you’ll encounter the giant in the second half (3D glasses on!), it’s his evil henchman Fleshcreep, played by Olivier award-winning Eastenders, Casualty and Downton Abbey star Nigel Harman, who’s the much-booed baddie of the piece. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1654" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep.jpg" alt="Nigel Harman Fleshcreep Jack and the beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside panto " class="wp-image-200165" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep-800x662.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep-1000x827.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep-400x331.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nigel-Harman-Fleshcreep-1536x1270.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nigel Harman as Fleshcreep</figcaption></figure>



There’s a puff of green smoke and a catchy electric guitar riff every time he slinks onstage and it’s acknowledged by almost every character that he’s essentially the handsome bad boy – you’ve got some sexy dancing in his ‘fungeon’ to look forward to. A standing ovation to choreographer Adam Scott for that.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1228" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk.jpg" alt="Leon Craig Dame Trott Jack and the beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside" class="wp-image-200169" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-800x491.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-1000x614.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-400x246.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Leon-Craig-Dame-Trott-Aylesbury-Waterside-Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-1536x943.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Leon Craig as Dame Trott</figcaption></figure>



Nige isn’t the only panto big shot gracing the stage. Leon Craig is celebrating his 20th year as a panto Dame and pulls out all the stops in his role as Dame Trot. The on-the-nose gags come thick and fast yet will fly over little ones heads; there’s so much action, colour and adventure that they’ll never clock the risqué references, although expect some gasps from the adults. Dame Trott’s costumes (and speedy changes) are spectacular, with the glittering tin of beans a particular highlight.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1415" height="2400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside.jpg" alt="Shani Cantor as Spirit of the Beans Jack and the beanstalk aylesbury waterside panto" class="wp-image-200173" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside.jpg 1415w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside-472x800.jpg 472w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside-590x1000.jpg 590w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside-236x400.jpg 236w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside-906x1536.jpg 906w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Shani-Cantor-Spirit-of-the-Beans-Jack-and-the-beanstalk-aylesbury-waterside-1207x2048.jpg 1207w" sizes="(max-width: 1415px) 100vw, 1415px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shani Cantor as Spirit of the Beans</figcaption></figure>



Speaking of beans, this year&#8217;s panto fairy is in fact a Spirit of the Beans character, played by the brilliant Shani Cantor. We’re all her little beanspouts/ mange tout, helping to cast spells on Fleshcreep (“he’s behind you!”). While her voice is West End worthy, her magic wand becomes a Greggs vegan sausage roll at one point; she’s got her twinkly toes on the ground. As does Silly Simon, who locals will recognise as panto legend Andy Collins. He presents the BBC Three Counties Breakfast Show so his regional quips are on point, and it’s easy to see why he’s become such a popular panto figure; he’s hugely energetic, funny and lovable. He’s in his 14th year at Aylesbury Waterside and his audience adore him.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1796" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk-.jpg" alt="Andy Collins Silly Simon Jack and the Beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside panto" class="wp-image-200174" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk-.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk--800x718.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk--1000x898.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk--400x359.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Andy-Collins-Silly-Simon-jack-and-the-beanstalk--1536x1379.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andy Collins as Silly Simon</figcaption></figure>



Another long-running feature of Aylesbury’s panto is the iconic water fight. I thought this might stretch to a light shower over the stalls, but I should have known better when the band pulled across a shower curtain. Jack and Silly Simon appear onstage in full waterproof boiler suits, umbrellas go up and kids (and adults) whip out the supersoakers. Like the novice I am, I came in a wool coat; I’ll bring my anorak next year so I leave less like a wet sheep. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1123" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk.jpg" alt="Joe Sleight and Andy Collins Jack and the beanstalk Aylesbury Waterside panto" class="wp-image-200177" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk-800x449.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk-1000x562.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/JoeSleight-AndyCollins-jack-and-the-beanstalk-1536x862.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Joe Sleight and Andy Collins</figcaption></figure>



It&#8217;s glorious chaos, as is the wacky rendition of 12 Days of Christmas, which involves poor Andy Collins chasing a giant string of loo roll wherever the audience ‘crowdsurfs’ it. One guy kept looking him in the eye and chucking it up to the dress circle. How the cast do three performances back-to-back on a Saturday I will never know: kudos to their cardio. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1570" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto.jpg" alt="12 Days of Christmas Aylesbury Waterside panto" class="wp-image-200180" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto-800x628.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto-1000x785.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto-400x314.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/12-Days-of-Christmas-Aylesbury-Waterside-panto-1536x1206.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">12 Days of Christmas</figcaption></figure>



There was a family sitting on the theatre FROW who’ve been coming to the show for decades, and I can see why. It’s a dazzling spectacle with an impressive set, slick and quick transitions and big dance numbers (as well as TikTok bops) from the cast, ensemble and junior members of the local Castielli School of Dance and Allstars Academy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1320" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg" alt="Jack and the beanstalk panto finale Aylesbury Waterside" class="wp-image-200183" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside-800x528.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside-1000x660.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside-400x264.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Jack-and-the-beanstalk-finale-Aylesbury-Waterside-1536x1014.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The finale</figcaption></figure>



I had a tear in my eye by the time we got to the heartwarming finale. Scrooge who? If it’s not already an annual outing, I implore you to make it one, just bring a brolly. Next year’s production is Sleeping Beauty, with Collins already limbering up to play the court jester, so we’ve got even more bawdy fairytale fun to look forward to in 2026.&nbsp;For now, don&#8217;t sleep on this year&#8217;s blockbuster. 



<a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk-pantomime/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Jack and the Beanstalk </a>is on at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre until Sun 4 Jan 2026. Tickets start at £15: <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk-pantomime/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">buy yours here</a>.

Review: Jack and the Beanstalk, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

You may also like