Photo Flash: Gareth Gates Launches Giant Panto JACK AND THE BEANSTALK in Wolverhampton

Yesterday, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre launched a GIANT of a pantomime at Dudley Zoological Gardens with leading man Gareth Gates. The pop-star and musical theatre favourite will be taking the title role in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK which also stars Lisa Riley, Doreen Tipton, Graham Cole, Ian Adams and Adam C Booth at the Grand Theatre from 9 December 2017 - 14 January 2018. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars in costume below!

Gareth Gates rose to stardom in 2002 as runner-up in the UK's first Pop Idol. In a phenomenal career which followed he has sold more than 3.5 million records in the UK, released three albums and had four UK number one singles.

Alongside his pop career Gareth has been seen on ITV1's Dancing on Ice and The Big Reunion 2014 for ITV. Gareth's theatre career has seen him play the role of Marius in the 25th-anniversary tour of Les Misérables for Sir Cameron Mackintosh, in Loserville at West Yorkshire Playhouse and the UK tours of Legally Blonde and Boogie Nights the Musical. He has regularly toured in the concert Mad About the Musicals and is currently starring in the second leg of the UK tour of Footloose. Gareth appeared as part of the line-up Boys Aloud, recreating the Girls Aloud hit Biology for BBC's Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief.

Dudley Zoological Gardens are the local partner for JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. The Grand Theatre pantomime attracts thousands of families to Wolverhampton each year, similarly in Dudley; families are drawn to a collection of the world's rarest animals who find their home in the grounds of an 11th-century castle at Dudley Zoological Gardens.

Grand Theatre Press & PR Manager Scott Bird said; "our first panto launch for Jack And The Beanstalk was a brilliant day with our panto partners Dudley Zoo. Jack is a farm boy who goes on a quest to the Giant's castle - with both a farm and a castle on site at the zoo, it couldn't have been more perfect! We're all very excited for what promises to be a 'giant' new production. Gareth will have some popular songs in the show and our cast line up reunites many members of our multi-award winning team from last year."

Gareth Gates said; "I've performed in eight pantomimes and played the Prince and Aladdin - I've never played Jack before so I can't wait to be in the panto in Wolverhampton, it's going to be lots of fun!"

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK opens at the Grand Theatre on Saturday 9 December 2017 and runs until Sunday 14 January 2018. Tickets are already on sale and can be booked in person, by phone on 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Hipkiss