Crewe Lyceum's slapstick panto favourites, Malcolm Lord and Ste Johnston, are back to perform Jack and the Beanstalk for Christmas 2025, launching on Friday 12 December.

Malcolm, back for his ninth year in Crewe and Ste, set for his fourth successive show, are starring in Jack and the Beanstalk alongside Brookside and Phantom Of The Opera star, Jennifer Ellison, until Sunday 4 January.

Slapstick Ste is set to return as Jack's bumbling brother, Simon Trott, with Malcolm performing as ditzy Dame, Dolly Trott.

Malcolm Lord (right) and Ste Johnston (left) in a selfie with Crewe Nub News (Photo: Ryan Parker).

Malcolm and Ste told Nub News: "We have been really lucky having such a great cast every year. Crewe Lyceum always seems to pick the right people for the right jobs, who are always nice and easy to get along with.

"A lot of people say to us 'why do you keep going back to Crewe, you can't tell the same jokes like if you went to other pantos in different theatres.'

"We keep finding fresh things every year and that is a fun part of it, coming in and working out what jokes we have already done and what new ones we can come up with.

"It's just a lovely little family here in Crewe. We have the same director, choreographer, musical director again and more.

"Even just walking in and being welcomed by the ladies at the Box Office, it's a lovely atmosphere having everyone back for Christmas - basically just to mess about for a couple of weeks and have some fun.

"There is talent all around us with really strong singers and actors. Jennifer, who is a scouse legend from her role in Brookside, is just brilliant, down to earth and wonderful to work with.

"Jen is pretty evil on stage as Poison Ivy, the kids will love her. Them school shows will be hard work for her, but she wants all the boos."

Malcolm previously appeared in the classic children's programme Rainbow, for Thames TV, playing Bungle bear and George the pink hippo.

Malcolm Lord, back for his ninth year at Crewe and Ste Johnston, set for his fourth successive show, are starring in Jack and the Beanstalk alongside Brookside and Phantom Of The Opera star, Jennifer Ellison, until Sunday 4 January (Photo: Crewe Lyceum).

Ste, a panto, theatre and TV regular, also commentated on Crewe's Krazy Races event at Brooklands over the summer.

Malcom and Ste said: "Once again, we will be bringing slapstick and a bit of daftness to the Crewe Lyceum stage, messing everything up and leaving it to others to sort out our mess.

"It is just great to be back and mess around again, working on comedy scenes we are going to do and what we can add to it.

"We get the script and then we put our own bits in. There is a lot of leeway for us to add what we want and keep it topical with things like 'Wicked: For Good' references and things like that.

"When things come up in rehearsals as well that we weren't expecting, we change things. It is a really collaborative process and nice to be able to deviate from the script and mess around with it.

"Jack and the Beanstalk is a brilliant show, filled with a great cast, and fabulous songs and costumes. The giant is brilliant, terrifying and massive, that will be a real spectacle.

"We can promise it will be a really magical show and great family adventure. We can't wait to see everybody this Christmas."

The panto veterans, who were special guests to switch on Crewe's Christmas lights for 2025, praised improvements seen in the town across the past few years.

Malcolm Lord and Ste Johnston praised the 'fabulous' lasers and lights display for Crewe's 2025 Christmas lights switch-on (Photo: Ryan Parker).

Malcolm and Ste added: "It was lovely to switch on Crewe's Christmas lights again. There were so many people there and all the lasers and lights looked fabulous on the Municipal Buildings.

"It is brilliant to see there is real care and attention to the town with the lights, giving something for locals to cheer about and look forward to.

"Slowly things are getting better for Crewe, it is certainly a town on the way up again. We have been here for a number of years now and seen things start to develop.

"The new Lyceum Square performance space is good, Crewe Market Hall is amazing and the new escape rooms are great. I think there is now a need for restaurants and bars to open in the town centre to bring that nightlife back."

Get your tickets for Crewe's Jack and the Beanstalk Christmas panto shows by clicking HERE.

READ MORE: Award-winning care village celebrates 15 years of 'happy memories' in Crewe.

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