THE Lakes Players are gearing up for another rip-roaring, laugh-a-minute pantomime with a giant-size cast and umpteen dazzling effects.

Oh yes, within the glitterring ranks of the all singing, all dancing performers of Jack and the Beanstalk, is a 15-feet animatronic giant that has three operators, created by Imagine Theatre of Coventry.

“When we say big - we mean big,” claims Stewart Hart, who heads LP’s committed production team, which includes Gareth Lambert (producer) and Catherine Robinson (choreographer and chief show runner).

“The giant arrives with the scenery so we have a limited time to work with it. Luke who will be controlling the giant inside has had to have stilt training in Coventry several times and we’ve also found that the scenery has had to be tweaked to allow the giant to actually enter the stage as its actually taller than the proscenium arch.”

Running at The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, from Tuesday-Sunday (7pm), January 21-26 (with two matinees on Saturday and Sunday), LP’s production tells the much-loved story of Jack, who sells Dame Trot’s cow, Daisy, for a bag of beans. However, there’s magic in the air and a beanstalk takes root, grows way up through the clouds to where we find the evil Giant Blunderbore, who causes disruption throughout the village of Stork-In-The-Bush.

Can Jack save the day and defeat the giant?

“Each year we try and make our show bigger and better and this is the best we have ever staged, “ enthuses Stewart. “The cast are all fantastic and the production team are working hard.

“The show is fast paced with lots of energetic numbers to get your feet tapping and of course lots of family fun.”

As usual, Stewart and team have effects galore up their theatrical sleeve, including Daisy the cow, who is apparently partial to a good dance workout. And a singing, growing beanstalk. Pyrotechnics are courtesy of Paul ‘Purple Sheep’ Gavin.

Doyennes of grand dames, Stewart plays Dame Trot; Gareth Lambert plays Simple Simon; and Pippa Wilson is defender of all Jack.

Amy Miller takes the role of the Princess; in the guise of the Fairy will be Nicky Woods; Anthony Dean plays Broadbean; Rachael Slater is Deadly Nightshade and Matthew Chadbourne will be in fine form as Runner Bean.

Also starring are the Miss Maria Dance School of Ambleside headed by Maria Pattinson, Nicola Morehead and Catherine Robinson.

To book tickets visit www.lakesplayers.co.uk or the main box office at The Royal Oak, Bowness.