Top Scottish talent announced for Eastwood Park Theatre's original Christmas show

The role of Jack will be taken on by Scottish actor Joshua Aitken, a recent Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts graduate, whose previous credits include National Theatre Scotland’s Submarine Time Machine.

The role of Rosie will be played by East Renfrewshire’s Kim Allan, who stars as Isabella MacDuff in the forthcoming highly anticipated Netflix film, Robert the Bruce action drama The Outlaw King, which will be available next month.

She has also appeared in BBC drama The Replacement and Channel 4 and Netflix series Lovesick. Kim’s parents met on the stage while performing in amateur dramatic productions at Eastwood Park Theatre, so she is sure to feel at home when taking on her new role.

Scottish actor Ross Mann, who has a string of theatre, television and film credits to his name including TV series Outlander and forthcoming Ken Loach film Beats, I Am the Architect and Not a Word, will take on the role of Jack’s nemesis The Farmer.

River City’s Sarah McCardie, otherwise known as ‘Sharon McLaren’, will be taking on two roles – the evil Witch and Jack’s Mother. Sarah recently appeared in STV’s The Victim and is known to young children as the presenter ‘May’ of the CBeebies programme Big City Park, which won a BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Children’s Programme.

The unique Christmas show is brought by four renowned Scottish theatre talents – written and composed by Andy McGregor, directed by Julie Brown, designed by Claire Halleran and produced by Clarkston’s Callum Smith of Showroom, one of Scotland’s most exciting theatre companies.

Anthony McReavy from East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, said: “We’re delighted to welcome some of Scotland’s best acting talent to our original Christmas show, which has been penned by the writer of many successful festive shows for the Citizen’s Theatre and produced by Showroom, one of Scotland’s most exciting theatre companies.

“Tickets are already selling fast so STALK up while you can!”

A hilarious twist on a traditional Christmas show, Jack and the Beanstalk II: Return of the Farmer follows Jack McJack, who is now living a life of fame, fortune and fanciness. He owns Giffnock’s most successful supermarket and everything is going his way – until the trickster of a farmer who gave him his magic beans returns and demands his share of the profits. In the hilarious new tale he recalls the story of his heroic trip to the top of the beanstalk, before facing the farmer in an epic showdown.

Playing at Eastwood Park Theatre from December 11-30, there will be a dedicated British Sign Language Interpreted (December 21, 7.30pm) and ‘relaxed’ (December 15, 1pm) performances for audience members with Additional Support Needs.

Tickets are priced at just £11 standard, £8 for concessions and a family of four can catch the show for £35. The show also qualifies for the group discount – buy ten tickets and one person can go free.

Book now: Jack and the Beanstalk II