Ashley Banjo and Diversity return to panto Jack and the Beanstalk at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton

STREET dance sensations Ashley Banjo and Diversity are getting ready for this year’s panto spectacular Jack and The Beanstalk.

The Bafta-winning dance troop return to the venue following the success of their appearance in last year’s show Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The dancers will fill the roles of Jack and the Trot Family at the Mayflower Theatre show, alongside award-winning actor and stand-up comedian Kev Orkian as the comical Silly Simon, actress Anne Smith as the evil Mrs Blunderbore and West End performers Matt Rixon as the hilarious Dame Trot, Jacqueline Hughes as the magical Spirit of the Beans and Lauren Hampton as the loveable Princess Jill.

Under the leadership of Ashley Banjo as founder, choreographer, and creative director, Diversity won Britain’s Got Talent over 15 years ago and since then have gone from strength to strength.

Speaking at the launch event at Mast Mayflower Studios, Ashley said: “Panto takes over life for a little while and it’s a lot of fun. We really love it, and it’s so great to be back in Southampton for a second year.”

“The production of Jack and the Beanstalk is absolutely next level from all the scenes to the beanstalk and the special effects. We are really excited about it”

He continued: “The Mayflower is a huge theatre and the audiences are so big – it really is a great venue to perform in. Southampton is one of the biggest and best theatre in the country – it’s wonderful to have the space to really be able to perform.”

Banjo and Diversity have sold well over half a million tickets across their 10 sell-out UK tours. Banjo was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Years Honours List for services to dance and last year Ashley and Diversity were privileged to perform for Her Majesty The Queen at her Platinum Jubilee concert.

Aside from being the group’s creative director and choreographer, Banjo is well known for his television roles; he has presented, judged and produced many award-winning programmes including Britain’s Got Talent, Dancing On Ice and the Emmy and Bafta-winning The Real Full Monty.

Banjo added: “With panto we are working within a great framework – we all work well together. We came off tour in May, and since then we’ve been working on our studio and some exciting new projects that we have coming up next year.

“We love the variety of touring, being in the studio, working on new projects, doing one off shows.”

This year’s panto cast will also include fellow Diversity members Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely who are also the Aria award winning hosts of the Kiss FM Breakfast Show.

Renowned musician, actor and comedian, Kev Orkian will also return to the Mayflower this December as Silly Simon. A Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Kev began his career as a classical concert pianist, before making the transition into the world of comedy.

Also starring is actress Anne Smith whose West End credits include Evita, Chess, Mamma Mia!, Good Rockin Tonite, Robin Prince of Sherwood, Only the Lonely, and Annie. No stranger to playing the pantomime villain, Anne has previously been seen in pantos across the country, most recently appearing as Queen Rat in Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.

Jack and the Beanstalk is staged by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, led by Michael Harrison and the creative team behind last year’s Mayflower Theatre Christmas production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Saturday 14th December to Sunday 5th January. Tickets are from £19.50, for more information and bookings visit www.mayflower.org.uk