It’s that time again. The city of Edinburgh’s biggest panto troupe returns to the Festival Theatre for one final stint before its homecoming to King’s Theatre in 2026. Jack and the Beanstalk is unapologetically big, bright and busy. A panto that knows exactly how to put on a show, even if it’s less certain about the story it’s trying to tell.

From the moment the curtain goes up, it’s clear where the production’s strengths lie. Visually, it’s a treat. The set design taken from the London Palladium production is bold and colourful, with slick lighting and costumes that feel lavish without tipping into chaos. And when the beanstalk finally makes its grand appearance, it genuinely earns its applause and reminds you why live theatre still hits differently. This is a production that understands spectacle, and it delivers it confidently.

The cast line-up feels reassuringly familiar in the best possible way, and are clearly having a brilliant time. Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young slip back into panto mode with effortless ease, clearly knowing exactly how this audience ticks, when to pause and when to push a joke just a little bit further than necessary…and then push it again for good measure. Stewart’s Dame is gloriously larger than life, all fizzing energy and razor-sharp timing with a song number that takes a trip down memory lane of panto days gone by as a reminder of how much sheer craft, and affection for the form, he brings to the role. While Stott leans into villainy with theatrical relish, chewing the scenery and enjoying every second of it, Young’s Jack brings warmth and bounce, anchoring the chaos with an easy charm. Around them, Clare Gray, Gail Watson and Amber Sylvia Edwards add colour, confidence and polish, rounding out the ensemble with strong vocals, playful character work and plenty of crowd-pleasing moments.

It’s a cast that knows its strengths and isn’t shy about showing them off. With plenty of knowing winks to the audience, and an easy rapport that keeps things buoyant even when scenes start to meander. Where the show falters is in its storytelling; even for a panto’s standards scenes can seem random or overly dragged out at times. The result is a production that’s consistently entertaining in short bursts, yet occasionally struggles to sustain momentum and teeters on over-milking it’s jokes to make up for the run time.

That said, the choreography is spot on, the musical elements are lively, and there’s a sense of generosity in how much the show wants to give its audience: laughs, spectacle, and festive escapism in generous measure. It just doesn’t always trust the story itself to do the heavy lifting. Overall, this Jack and the Beanstalk feels like a solid, crowd‑pleasing panto with standout visuals and an enthusiastic cast worth seeing.

Jack and the Beanstalk has finished its run