The core trio of Le Navet Bete – which apparently translates, roughly, from French, as ‘The Daft Turnip’ – Matt Freeman, Nick Bunt and Al Dunn, have collaborated together since they met at the University of Plymouth in 2003. Le Navet Bete was founded in 2008, but more recently have established a decent reputation as purveyors of the annual pantomime at Exeter Northcott Theatre, a collaboration now in its fourth consecutive year. As someone who has never resided in Devon, there were things that resonated very strongly with the locals in the audience that I had to have explained to me, one way or another. Take, for instance, baddie Fleshcreep’s (Aaron Dart) opening gambit: “Green Army! Green Army!” – a reference to the supporters of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, with whom the supporters of Exeter City Football Club have enjoyed (or endured) a longstanding rivalry. Theatre Royal Plymouth, for the record, has its own panto this season, Dick Whittington.
Other references seemed deliberately crowbarred in for their own sake – the patron next to me literally had his face in his hands after someone rather randomly forced in ‘six seven’, and there was even the brief inclusion of characters from a completely different panto (a charitable acknowledgement, perhaps, to the loyalty of returning patrons with a clue to as to what next season’s panto offering might be). Curiously, the beanstalk of the show’s title was, literally and metaphorically, something of a letdown, though the production redeems itself with an impressive portrayal of The Giant that is threatening to trample over all of Exeter if his demands are not met.
In line with some other pantos in recent years, the custard pies being flung around have been replaced with an ice cream machine, so large that it can accommodate several characters who find themselves, one by one, locked in, until the sole remaining character on stage pushes several buttons that spurt out various flavours and toppings that coat those unfortunate to be inside. It wasn’t that long ago that chocolate used to be flung out to the audience – this panto has several squirts of water pistol action instead. Even that, on press night, wasn’t a patch on local prevailing weather conditions earlier in the day.
Few, if any, attend the panto for the plot, which meant diversions into, say, a thorough exploration of the ‘Jack and Jill’ nursery rhyme, or a shoutout to a couple of stagehands who were momentarily visible on stage, are wholly and entirely forgivable. Even a tiny morsel of politics crept in – The Giant had been overtaxing the population, and Jack, having climbed the beanstalk, discovered huge amounts of money in reserve. Make of that what you will.
Molly Cheesley’s Bella the Cow had reason to sing ‘All By Myself’ (1975) at one point – very beautifully. Other music offerings included Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Proud Mary’ (1969), ‘Come Fly With Me’ (1958), written for Frank Sinatra by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, and ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ by the rock band Queen (1980). Younger patrons are likely to recognise ‘Golden’ from the 2025 animated motion picture KPop Demon Hunters.
What I was particularly struck by was the on-stage camaraderie, with the cast all too happy to try to catch one another out (or at least convincingly give the impression they were trying to do so). A couple of unexpected, and very sweet, callouts from children in the audience were dealt with enthusiastically, and overall, this was a panto with plenty of heart, energy and festive spirit.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Laughs, thrills, spills, special effects and giant amounts of fun combine in a spectacular production for all ages. It’s the story you know and love in a version you’ll never forget.
Down on their Devon farm live Dame Trott, Bella the Cow, Jack and his sister Jill, all working hard and dreaming of pots of gold in the sky. But when they are sold some Magic Beans TM by a strange and mysterious bean seller, their lives become decidedly less earthbound! Will the evil Fleshcreep cause havoc? Will Jack and Jill find true happiness? Will Dame Trott manage to climb the beanstalk in nine-inch heels?
CAST
Nick Bunt – Silly Billy
Molly Cheesley – Bella the Cow & Music Captain
Mo Crook – Ensemble & Understudy
Aaron Dart – Fleshcreep
Al Dunn – Jack
Matt Freeman – Dame Trott
Tamsin Lynes – Ensemble & Understudy
Jodie Micciché – Jill & Dance Captain
Emma Nelder – Ensemble and Swing
Robin Colyer – Voice of the Giant
Tom Welch – Body of the Giant
Julia Bradbury, Sebastian Bristow, Thomas Leonidou, Ruby Lovell, Alba Raynor and Rosie Schofield – sharing the role of Hamlet the Pig and the Golden Chicken
CREATIVE TEAM
Martin Berry – Director & Co-Writer
Le Navet Bete – Co-Writers and Co-Producers
Sophie Cottle – Assistant Director
Kim Healey – Choreographer
Robin Colyer – Sound Designer & Rehearsal Musical Director
Cleo Pettitt – Set Designer
Jacob Blackburn – Children’s Director
Katie Haywood – Costume Designer & Supervisor
Will Tippett – Lighting Designer
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Exeter Northcott Theatre
27 November 2025 to 4 January 2026
