IT may be only April, but tickets for this year’s Poole pantomime go on sale today. Jack and the Beanstalk has been confirmed as the 2019 Lighthouse production and tickets are available from 10am.

This is the fourth year running that Lighthouse has co-produced its own pantomime with Duncan Reeves Productions, the company headed by Olivier award-nominated actor and TV presenter Peter Duncan and musical director Darren Reeves. And Peter is already hard at work on the script as he feeds the seeds in his own greenhouse.

“I’m really looking forward to creating another great pantomime at Lighthouse – Jack and the Beanstalk is a terrific story and incredibly versatile, there’ll be lots of songs and laughter; a real spectacle for all the family,” promises the former Blue Peter presenter who recently earned rave reviews in the title role of The Dame, his daughter Katie’s poignant backstage monologue.

Peter also revealed the script will have an environmental theme inspired by the global movement led by 16-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg that saw 1.6 million students in 120 countries take part in strikes last month to press the world’s politicians to act on climate change.

“What they achieved was amazing and the movement continues to grow so I’m very happy to highlight the message – who knew pantomime could play a part in saving the planet?!”

“Lighthouse is thrilled to be renewing its partnership with Duncan Reeves Productions,” says chief executive Elspeth McBain.

Jack and the Beanstalk, which first appeared 285 years ago as The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean, a Christmas fairy tale by Dick Merryman, can be enjoyed in 40 performances at Lighthouse from Thursday, December 12 to Sunday, January 5. Call 01202 280000 or see lighthousepoole.co.uk.