Jack and The Beanstalk (Sort Of)

Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals are back at The Playhouse on Saturday 21 November, with two shows that day, one at 11am and another at 2pm. It's a Half Moon Presents production, and the title is Jack and The Beanstalk (Sort Of), which gives you a fair idea of where this is heading.

If you've seen Kid Carpet before, you'll know the setup: he's a family theatre maker and rock star legend who's returned with a brand new show. The whole thing is built on a bit of a clash. Kid Carpet hates panto, but The Noisy Animals absolutely love it, so they've staged their own version. It's Jack and the Beanstalk thrown in a blender with a drum machine and dodgy celebrity lookalikes, and the cast is made up of Bear, Gorilla, Badger and Hedgehog. It's less a traditional fairy tale and more like a panto that's completely off its beanstalk.

As for what actually happens on stage, it's a bit of a hybrid. Part of it is an air-guitar workshop, part is a magical mess, and the whole thing is described as a lo-fi, hi-tech, big-beat bonkers panto stuffed with songs, silliness and surprise grannies. Reviewers have called it 'panto meets children's party meets Harry Hill' and 'high energy anarchic fun', so it's definitely on the louder, more chaotic end of things.

It's recommended for ages 3 and over, and it runs for around an hour with no interval, which is a good length for the younger ones. With the 11am and 2pm slots on the same day, you can pick the one that fits your Saturday best. It's at The Playhouse, part of Sheffield Theatres.