Jack & the Beanstalk. A visual story

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Howdee folks and welcome all to our pantomime.

My name’s Dolly – I’m a Fairy.

I’m here to make sure that good wins over evil in our tale today.

Our pantomime takes place at Norwich Theatre Royal.

This is where people come to enjoy themselves, to watch stories being told.

This here’s the auditorium.

It’s a big room inside the theatre where people watch the story.

It will be crowded and busy so be sure to stay close to the people y’all have come with.

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Our story begins way out west in Nodge City.

It’s the place to be – a happy place to begin our pantomime!

There’ll be singing and dancing, laughter and music.

We’re going to have ourselves a hoe-down! Yee-ha!!

Sometimes it will be loud – you can cover your ears if you want.

To make my magic happen, I’ll need the lights down low but don’t worry, there’s nothing to be frightened of.

You’ll still be able to see the people y’all have come with.

When it goes dark, it simply means our pantomime’s beginning!

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You’re about to watch a story of good versus evil, of heroes and baddies, magical beans and a beanstalk that stretches high into the sky! It’s the tale of a giant who lives at the top of a mountain – Giant Blunderbuss!

Some of my friends will help me tell our tale. We’re pretending to be other people. There’s nothing to be scared of. It’s all make-believe and the baddies are not really bad at all.

Halfway through our story there will be a short break so the actors can have a rest and you can go to the toilet. The lights will brighten inside the auditorium and people may leave their seats. When they come back, the lights will dim a little and the rest of our tale will be told.

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Let’s meet some of the ranch folk in our tale today.

This is Jack – he’s a cowboy on the Trottalot Cattle and Egg Ranch. He lives here with his mother and brother.

Jack is the hero of our tale!

This is Billy Trottalot – he’s Jack’s brother.

Billy helps out on the ranch but he doesn’t like the chickens.

He’s always running away from them. Silly Billy!

In our story, the chickens are played by children. In theatre sometimes we have to use our imagination and pretend.

Here’s Jack’s mum:

Jack’s mum is called Nigella Trottalot.

She sure looks funny.

–

Nigella Trottalot is a pantomime dame played by a man pretending to be a woman.

Isn’t pantomime crazy?!

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Shall I let you into a secret?

Jack’s in love.

Aaaah!

He has a girlfriend called Jolene.

Here she is.

Yes, siree – Billy Trottalot is Deputy Sheriff !

He sure could do with a gang to help him fight crime and keep the streets of Nodge City clean and safe.

Will you help Billy?

Will you join his posse? Great!

Jolene’s father is Sheriff of Nodge City.

It’s the Sheriff ’s job to keep law and order in Nodge City.

To help him, he has a Deputy.

We’ll have ourselves a secret greeting so we know who’s in the posse.

Every time Billy comes on he’ll shout ‘Hiya posse, how’ya doing?’ and we’ll all shout ‘Aaaaalright!’

Shall we have a practice?

‘Hiya posse, how’ya doing?’

‘Aaaaalright!’

Fantastic!

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Not everyone is on the side of law and order.

Step forward Phineas P. Stinkworthy otherwise known as Stinky Pete!

Stinky Pete is the villain in our tale but don’t worry, he’s not frightening. He’s played by an actor pretending to be evil.

Our pantomime is make-believe and not frightening at all.

Every time Stinky Pete appears, we all boo and hiss to let him know he’s evil.

Stinky Pete is up to no good. He believes that Nodge City has seams of gold buried in the ground. He wants to scare everyone from their homes and ruin Nodge City. Then he’ll be able to buy up all the land and mine the gold to be rich. Boo! Hiss!!

To frighten everyone away, Stinky Pete needs a helping hand – a very big one! A giant lives at the top of a mountain near Nodge City. His name is Giant Blunderbuss. Stinky Pete knows that everyone is bound to be really scared of a giant!

Stinky Pete is so mean he tries to bankrupt Trottalot Cattle and Egg Ranch. He steals all the animals and even uses his evil magic to persuade Jack Trottalot to sell the family’s cow, Daisy-Belle - for a tin of beans!

Poor Daisy-Belle!

She’ll be taken to Giant Blunderbuss for sure.

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It will be up to our hero, Jack, to save the day.

But I’m here to lend a hand.

My good magic will help overcome Stinky Pete’s evil deeds.

What do you think will happen then?

I’ll make the beans magic beans. They’ll grow into a beanstalk so big it will stretch high, high in the sky. This will help Jack reach the top of the mountain.

Will Jack rescue Daisy-Belle and all the animals stolen by Stinky Pete?

Will Jack free Jolene?

What do you think Giant Blunderbuss will do if he finds Jack?

How will it all end? We’ll just have to wait and see!

One thing’s for sure, I’ll be there to help Jack so I’ll see you soon.

Good day to y’all!