Few summer outings capture the simple pleasure of the school holidays quite like Theatre on Kew. Families arrive laden with picnic blankets, children race across the lawns in anticipation and, surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens, it feels as though the stage has been waiting there all along. This year, the Australian Shakespeare Company adds another delightful chapter to its Kew residency with the UK premiere of Jack and the Beanstalk, a production that is every bit as magical as its setting.
Adapted by Glenn Elston OAM and directed by Dennis Manahan, this relaxed open-air retelling embraces everything audiences love about the classic fairy tale. There are golden eggs to discover, a Goose on the Loose, a mischievous Fairy Godmother, a magical harp, singalong moments with Daisy the Cow and, of course, the towering Giant himself. It is unmistakably pantomime in spirit, but without relying on the frenetic pace or relentless volume that can sometimes overwhelm younger audiences.
I attended with my daughters, aged seven and nine, together with close friends and their children. Before the performance had even begun, the afternoon already felt special. The Berberis Dell, tucked away within Kew Gardens, provides a wonderfully intimate natural amphitheatre, and sharing a picnic beneath the trees before settling down for the performance is very much part of the experience.
The familiar story follows the kind-hearted Jack, whose decision to swap the family cow for a handful of seemingly worthless beans appears disastrous until those beans grow into an enormous beanstalk stretching into the clouds. There he discovers a fearsome Giant, a cache of treasure and an opportunity to transform his family’s fortunes. It is a tale generations have grown up with, yet this production gives it fresh energy through music, audience participation and a generous sense of humour.
Maria Goodman is an engaging Jack, bringing warmth, optimism and boundless enthusiasm to the role. She makes an instantly likeable hero, encouraging the audience to become part of the adventure from the outset. Claire Rammelkamp is equally impressive in her multiple roles as Jill, the Beanseller and Fairy Godmother, effortlessly switching between characters while keeping the audience thoroughly entertained. Tom Vercnocke provides an assured Narrator, guiding younger audience members through the story with clarity and plenty of wit, while Lev Govorovski makes a suitably imposing Giant whose larger-than-life presence is exciting rather than frightening for younger children.
The production never underestimates its audience. The children around us delighted in shouting warnings to Jack, joining in the songs and enthusiastically responding whenever the cast invited participation, while the adults enjoyed the stream of gentle jokes woven into the script. The balance is carefully judged, ensuring that everyone feels included without the humour becoming overly knowing or forced.
As with every Australian Shakespeare Company production at Kew, however, one of the greatest stars is the venue itself. Outdoor theatre rarely enjoys such a spectacular backdrop. Surrounded by mature trees and immaculate gardens, with birdsong occasionally accompanying the dialogue, the natural setting becomes an extension of the stage. It lends the production a warmth and sense of escapism that would be impossible to recreate inside a conventional theatre.
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about watching children become completely immersed in a story that has entertained families for generations while sitting beneath the trees on a sunny summer afternoon. By the final curtain, our daughters and their friends were still laughing about Daisy the Cow and enthusiastically recounting their favourite moments as we wandered back through the gardens.
The Australian Shakespeare Company has once again demonstrated why its annual Theatre on Kew season has become one of London’s highlights each summer. Charming, beautifully performed and set within one of the capital’s most magnificent landscapes, Jack and the Beanstalk is an enchanting introduction to live theatre for younger audiences and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for the whole family.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Theatre on Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew until 23 August 2026
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour 25 minutes (no interval)
