Steven Webb will return to the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas to star in the venue’s 2013 pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk, which plays as part of a festive season that will also see the return of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas.
Adapted by award-winning writer Tom Wells (The Kitchen Sink) and directed by Dan Herd, Jack And The Beanstalk will bring its tale of magic beans, evil giants and golden egg-laying geese to the venue’s main house from 23 November (press night 30 November) to 4 January.
Webb, who returns to the venue following his performances in last year’s pantomime Cinderella, 2011’s Aladdin and 2010’s Dick Whittington And His Cat, has appeared elsewhere on stage in Scrooge and Sam Mendes’ production of Oliver! at the London Palladium, The History Boys at the Wyndham’s theatre and Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios, as well as appearing in television series including The Inbetweeners and Miranda on screen.
Also returning to the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas, following its sell-out success last year, is Father Christmas, which will play in the venue’s studio space from 22 November to 4 January.
A Pins And Needles co-production, Father Christmas is the first ever stage adaptation of Briggs’ well-known story and uses live music, puppetry and striking designs to tell the tale of the festive gift-bearer who awakes from a dream of summer sun to find that it’s Christmas Eve and the start of the longest night of the year.
The west London venue will welcome the festive productions following its redevelopment, which will see the theatre enhance its acclaimed educational programme and undergo a major facelift to its existing building.