The Black Country theatre have revealed the first casting announcement for the 2017/18 season which will see Gareth Gates star in a giant new production of Jack And The Beanstalk.

Also starring in the end-of-year show are actress, Lisa Riley as the Fairy, Ian Adams will return as dame playing Dame Trott, Black Country favourite Doreen Tipton will appear and Adam C Booth plays the role of Jack’s brother Simple Simon.

Gareth rose to stardom in 2002 as runner-up in the UK’s first Pop Idol. In a phenomenal career which followed he has sold more than 3.5 million records in the UK, released three albums and had four UK number one singles.

Alongside his pop career Gareth has been seen on ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and his theatre career has seen him play the role of Marius in the 25th anniversary tour of Les Misérables for Sir Cameron Mackintosh, alongside UK tours of Legally Blonde and Boogie Nights the Musical. 

Lisa captured the hearts of Wolverhampton as the Slave Of The Ring in last year’s pantomime, Aladdin. Lisa is a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women and is known for playing Mandy Dingle in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale from 1995 to 2001. She more recently wowed viewers on the BBC1 series Strictly Come Dancing. Lisa also appeared in a Grand Theatre pantomime in the 2000 production of Dick Whittington as Fairy Bowbells.

Lazy Black Country internet sensation, Doreen Tipton, will appear after becoming a national treasure – at least regionally – in her native Black Country. Doreen’s original million hit YouTube viral success has now blossomed into a series of theatre tours, a full-length feature film featuring fellow Yam Yam and rock legend Robert Plant and Steve Bull, an autobiography (which somebody else had to write) her own BBC radio show, and even her own online comedy sketch channel called Doreen TV.

More casting will be announced soon. Jack And The Beanstalk opens at the Grand Theatre on Saturday 9 December 2017 and runs until Sunday 14 January 2018. Tickets are already on sale and can be booked in person, by phone on 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.