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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 DECEMBER 2022 4 CHRISTMAS FM Theatre Productions to stage Jack and the Beanstalk at Teatru Astra PANTO is back and it's a festive season of firsts for FM Theatre Productions, as the production house that has brought many a panto favourite, returns, with Jack and the Beanstalk. And this time with a twist. For the first time in panto his- tory, this Christmas, FM Theatre Productions are bringing panto to the majestic Teatru Astra in Gozo from the 26th till the 30th of December. And that's not all. This year, the Jack and The Beanstalk pantomime is made up of a stellar cast of actor-mu- sicians, led by panto veteran Ed- ward Mercieca as Dame Fazola Biglla. Mercieca is joined by Gi- anni Selvaggi as the effervescent Jack along with Chiara Hyzler, Tina Rizzo, Sean Borg, Cathy Lawlor, Peter Farrugia and Han- nah Attard. Promising to delight adults and children alike, the classic tale is infused with the humour and charm that one would expect of a Christmas Pantomime togeth- er with the electric excitement of a rock and roll concert. Jack's plans to marry Jill come to a screeching halt when a ter- rifying giant threatens to devour Jill unless he is given a sack of gold. He turns to his loud and brassy mother, Dame Fazola Big- illa for help, who concocts a plan to come up with the life-sav- ing sack of gold. Hilarity ensues when the Dame's plans go awry. Pressure mounts as the Squire of the land, Jill's father, insists on the poor family obtaining the treasured collection, aggravated by the naively incompetent Billy. With contemporary jokes and Maltese references woven in- to the script by Peter Rowe, the whimsical journey up the beanstalk is not scarce of the traditional panto elements and characteristics that will have au- diences cheering and chanting classic call-backs at the top of their lungs. Directed by Chris Gatt, the unexpected twists and turns that the protagonists find themselves in are nothing short of typical panto ludicracy that keeps audiences laughing uncon- trollably scene after scene. The actor-musicians, under the Musical Direction of Cathy Law- lor, will be playing some of the most iconic tunes from the likes of music legends such as Queen, Bruno Mars, Fleetwood Mac and James Brown to name a few. Jack and The Beanstalk is an FM Theatre Production in col- laboration with Teatru Astra and is supported by The Ministry of Gozo and The Cultural Heritage Directorate. For tickets and more informa- tion visit www.tnd.com