Fe-fi-fo-fum, a giant of a panto full of fun!
Alison Hammond stars in Birmingham Hippodrome's huge panto for 2023...
Birmingham's Panto is back for the 2023 season at the Birmingham Hippodrome, with the best stars taking to the stage for a unique performance of Jack and the Beanstalk!
Birmingham’s own Alison Hammond stars as Spirit of the Beans, alongside Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack playing Jake Trot who is back for a 10th year; and star of stage and screen Samantha Womack as Mrs Blunderbore. They are joined by Black Country legend Doreen Tipton as Doreen the Cow, panto dame extraordinaire Andrew Ryan as Dame Trot, Brummie local Alexanda O’Reilly in the title role and West-End performer Billie-Kay as Princess Jill.
The UK’s biggest regional panto, which will feature sets and costumes from The London Palladium, is sure to be a show not to miss! Join Alison Hammond, Matt Slack and the all-star cast for a panto of fun and laughter.
Get your tickets for Birmingham Hippodrome's 2023 Panto now!
Jack and the Beanstalk will run at Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 16 December 2023 and will play until Sunday 28 January 2024.
Now check out some of our favourite Christmas songs of all time:
The Pogues - 'Fairytale Of New York'
Originally released in 1987, The Pogues' 'Fairytale Of New York' is a very popular song every Christmas. Despite its popularity, the song wasn't a Christmas Number 1, with the Pet Shop Boys' cover of 'Always on My Mind', keeping it off the top spot.
Wham! - 'Last Christmas'
Released by Wham! in 1984, 'Last Christmas' became the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK, until The Pogues overtook it in 2015. 'Last Christmas' was also prevented from being a Christmas Number 1, this time by Band Aid's, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'.
Leona Lewis - 'One More Sleep'
'One More Sleep' was written by Leona Lewis along with a songwriting team, and has become one of the most popular recent Christmas songs.
Wizzard - 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'
Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' was originally released back in 1973 and has been popular at this time of the year ever since, even re-entering the charts most Christmases!
Mariah Carey - 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'
Mariah's timeless classic Christmas song was originally released back in 1994, and enjoyed huge success around the world. 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' peaked at Number 2 in the UK, behind East 17's 'Stay' in 1994.
Band Aid - 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was originally released in 1984, and has been re-recorded three times since, in 1989, 2004, and 2014. At the time, the song became the fastest selling single in UK chart history, selling a million copies in the first week alone.
The original version of the song included U2's Bono, Bananarama, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, and many more pop stars brought together by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure.
John Lennon/Yoko Ono - 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)'
'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' was released in 1972 here in the UK, a year later than it was released elsewhere. Originally reaching Number 4 on its release, the song has continued to re-enter the chart over the subsequent years, reaching Number 2 in 1980, the year of John Lennon's death.
East 17 - 'Stay Another Day'
Although not technically a Christmas song, East 17's 'Stay Another Day' was their largest hit and became the Christmas Number 1 in 1994, beating Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.
Shakin' Stevens - 'Merry Christmas Everyone'
As festive songs go, Shakin' Stevens' 'Merry Christmas Everyone' has had a pretty impressive run. Originally topping the chart in the year of its release (1985), it has continued to re-enter every year since 2007!
Slade - 'Merry Xmas Everybody'
'Merry Xmas Everybody' was Slade's last Number 1 and their biggest selling single. Since its released in 1973, it has been re-released every decade, and also been covered by a number of different artists, including Girls Aloud, R.E.M. and Train.
Gabriella Cilmi - 'Warm This Winter'
Gabriella Cilmi's cover of the 1962 song 'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter', released by Connie Francis, was used on a supermarket advert when it was released in 2008. The song re-entered the UK charts the following Christmas.
Paul McCartney - 'Wonderful Christmastime'
'Wonderful Christmastime' was Paul McCartney's first solo single since Wings formed in November 1979. After its initial release in 1979, it was also added to two of his releases in 1993 and 2011.