Jack and the Beanstalk, Chesterfield Theatres’ 2025 panto, will reach rarely seen heights—it will feature Giant from the BBC series Gladiators.
Standing at over six feet tall, Jamie Christian-Johal, who was born in Ilkeston in Derbyshire, will take his towering presence to the Winding Wheel stage when he steps into the role of the pantomime giant.
Pantomime producer Paul Holman of Paul Holman Associates said, “it’s fantastic to have Jamie on board, bringing his incredible strength and energy to the show. You can’t ask for a bigger or better giant so we’re very excited to see the character grow.”
Appearing alongside Christian-Johal will be Patrick Monahan as Simon Trott. Holman added, "Patrick is the perfect choice to bring the comedy, ensuring there's something for the whole family to enjoy."
Magician Nicholas Lee and his assistant Rachel O’Hare will bring the battle of good over evil to life with their unique spells and wizardry in the roles of the devilish Fleshcreep and the enchanting Spirit of Cloudland.
Jack and the Beanstalk will run at the Winding Wheel from Friday 5 December until Sunday 4 January 2026.