Jack and the Beanstalk cast chat with Leigh-on-sea.com

September 27, 2024

Southend is in for a real treat this Christmas with Jack and the Beanstalk Panto coming to the Cliffs on 15th December. We had the very special opportunity of interviewing some of the main cast members this week and here is a little snippet of our conversations.

Rylan (Spirit of the Beans), is an East London lad made good after his amazing performance on the X-Factor which landed him straight into the limelight. Now a popular presenter, author, DJ and actor you can't miss him on your TV screens, lately appearing with Rob Rinder doing the Grand Tour of Italy. This is Rylan's first performance in Panto and, oh my, is he looking forward to it. With this magical cast I think a 3 week blast of entertainment is on hand for this popular lad. Now living in Essex it is just a hop, skip and a jump from home to Southend. He reminisces about the wonderful years growing up in London before the family moved to Essex, when doors were left open, where everybody knew everybody else and a knees-up was always on the cards on a Saturday night. I think those early years shaped him into the most wonderful person and strong entertainer that he is now.

You may ask what is next for our cheeky chappy; well, he is off to India with his best pal Rob Rinder where they get to explore that amazing continent; an education for him, especially since he is going with "the cleverest guy I know" Rob.

Nic Greenshields (Fleshcreep) is a very seasoned actor and Director who has a long list of credits to his name. He has performed many times on the West End stage in hit musicals and plays including Les Miserables, Wizard of Oz, Love Never Dies and Miss Saigon. Now living in Southend Nic says it is great to be working nearer to home: "it will give me a chance to spend some downtime with my family and hopefully catch my son playing football, which is something of a rarity".

Aaron James (Simple Simon) what can I say about Aaron? He is the sort of guy you could converse with all day; so easy going with a great personality. He started out like a lot of famous comedians by working at Warner’s as a Green Coat. Since then he has had a very busy career in comedy, hosting charity and sporting events (he is a keen golfer), appearing in theatre tours with George Best, Eric Cantona, Paul Gascoigne, Joe Pasquale and the late great Joe Longthorne. And very recently he was "Live At The Apollo"! Aaron tells me he is really looking forward to Panto due in part to the wonderful cast: "I know we are going to have a really great time together". Aaron has only just seen the script and is looking forward to adding a few of his own gags.

Toby Miles (Jack) I think Toby will go far in his acting and singing career which began when he played Marius in Les Miserables in London. He has just returned from Asia where he played Ned Schneeby in School of Rock. Toby says that "I really wanted to see Asia and spent my free time exploring Korea and China, both magnificent countries. Although neither of Toby's parents are from an acting or musical background his talent shone through from an early age when his parents would take him to various music lessons and he says that he has always loved to sing and act. What a clever chappy.