It’s Christmas – which means it must be time for panto! Step forward alumna Ruth Brotherton, who is midway through a run of over 90 performances of Jack and the Beanstalk. Oh yes she is!
Last seen in the UK tour of hit comedy Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Ruth has swapped her period costume for rather fetching brown fluffy dungarees and an impressive headdress to play Daisy, the talking cow in a Viking-themed version of the popular pantomime at The Theatre, Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
“It’s all very silly and fun and I’m really enjoying it,” said Ruth, whose character starts off as a cow only able to ‘moo’ but begins talking after eating magical beans in the forest! The show is a laugh-out-loud, feel-good family panto with a Swedish twist; apart from Jack and Daisy, most of the eight-strong cast have Ikea-themed names like Lotta Lacktable, Inge Klippansofa and Olaf Billybookcase. The Panto Dame Gertrude even sports a dress made of Ikea bags! Not surprisingly, the show has been a hit with critics with one calling Ruth’s performance ‘udderly brilliant’.
The panto started in mid-November and continues until January 12, with two performances a day, six days a week. It’s a punishing schedule but Guildford School of Acting graduate Ruth has already honed her panto skills in Robin Hood (2019) and Puss in Boots (2021). Since graduating in 2019, she’s also built up an impressive theatrical CV with tours of Twelfth Night, Estella, As You Like It and of course Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) which finished with a six week run at the CAA Theatre in Toronto last December.
We wish Ruth and all the cast a successful run, especially as every ticket sold supports valuable outreach work with young people in the local community. If you’re going to be anywhere near Chipping Norton over the Christmas and New Year break, why not take the family along? Here’s a link to find out more Pantomime | Jack & the Beanstalk | Chipping Norton Theatre
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Alumnae Office, and huge thanks to our alumnae for all their support in 2024. We are so proud of you all!
