Al Murray Will Make His Panto Debut In Wimbledon

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Lead roles for Jack and the Beanstalk at New Wimbledon Theatre are named

The countries’ most outspoken publican Al Murray and West End, television and Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe will lead the cast of this year’s New Wimbledon Theatre pantomime.

Best known as “The Pub Landlord”, Al Murray has been a mainstay of British television, radio, theatre and the stand-up circuit since he made his debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994. Since then he propelled himself to stardom from his humble publican beginnings.

Al will play the brother of Jack Trot, Idle Al, who will ably assist his brother in climbing the beanstalk, outwit the evil Giant Blunderbore and win the hand of the beautiful Princess.

You can read our press night review here.

Starring alongside Al Murray as Idle Al, Jack’s mother will be played by the Olivier Award-winning actor Clive Rowe. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Clive solidified his reputation as one of the UK’s most talented actors and vocalists with lead roles in Carousel at the National Theatre and as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls.

Clive was last heard (and briefly seen) at New Wimbledon Theatre when he voiced Audrey II, the infamous man-eating plant in the musical Little Shop of Horrors. He is famously known as one of the UK’s best-loved pantomime dames having donned a frock at the Hackney Empire for a number of years.

This festive season the SW19 landscape will feature a gigantic beanstalk as Jack and the Beanstalk comes to New Wimbledon Theatre for the first time in over 15 years. Produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, in a new partnership with New Wimbledon Theatre operators ATG, this year’s production promises to feature all of the ingredients of a perfect panto, including never-before-seen special effects.

Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division said: “We are absolutely delighted to begin an all-new working relationship with New Wimbledon Theatre and to bring the magic of our pantomimes to Merton this year. We are thrilled Al Murray will make what promises to be an unmissable and hilarious pantomime debut as Idle Al, and with the wonderfully talented Clive Rowe as our Dame New Wimbledon Theatre audiences are in for a real treat this year.”

Neil Chandler, theatre General Manager, said: "Since we opened this theatre on Boxing Day 1910 we have built a reputation of providing the best family pantomime in South West London. I am thrilled that QDOS are returning to the venue to continue this tradition.”

• Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Saturday December 9 to Sunday January 14.
  
  June 12, 2017