SINGER Suzanne Shaw will play Princess Melody alongside comic actress Mel Giedroyc’s Fairy Liquid in Jack and the Beanstalk, which runs from December 1, 2007 to January 12, 2008 at the Barbican.

Although Shaw shot to stardom as part of the pop group Hear’Say, winners of ITV’s Popstars competition, she made her stage debut at the age of 10 playing the title role in the musical Annie at the Liverpool Empire.

More recently, she starred in the West End productions of Summer Holiday, the previous run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (as narrator) and, only last year, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show (as Janet).

Giedroyc is best known as one half of the comedy double act, Mel and Sue. As well as their own shows – Light Lunch and Late Lunch – Giedroyc has appeared in The Vicar of Dibley, Gimme Gimme Gimme, French and Saunders and Rhona; as well as the reality shows Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and The Games.

Joining them in the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk will be Steve Furst (Little Britain) as Beastly Boris, Andy Gray as Dame Dolly Deluxe, Helen Baker, Ashley Campbell, Jack Chissick, Tony Jawawardena and Shelley Williams.

Previously Posted Following the success of last year’s Dick Whittington and His Cat, the Barbican’s inaugural pantomime, the 2007/08 festive offering will be Jack and the Beanstalk – from December 1 to January 12.

Jack’s adventure begins when he swaps his mother’s cow for a handful of magic beans. Where will the beanstalk lead him? Can he save the day? And what will become of Daisy the Cow?

Jack and the Beanstalk has been specially written for the Barbican by Jonathan Harvey, whose play about sexual awakening Beautiful Thing is being staged at South London Theatre in September.
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Jack and the Beanstalk, which has music and lyrics by the British duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, will be directed by Giles Havergal.

Suitable for all ages.