The curtain goes up on Jack and the Beanstalk, the New Ash Players’ pantomime tomorrow (Thursday).

Staged at Ash Village Hall, the show features no TV stars or special effects, just great audience participation.

It is written by Penny Bernard, directed by Jan Bell and produced by Tony Jones; the same team that brought you last year’s show.

Mr Jones, who has been involved with New Ash Players from its inception about 20 years, said: “The panto has the usual Jack and his mother although we seem to have the genders different.

“Jack has to climb the beanstalk to seek his fortune and find a goose that lays golden eggs.

“Also he discovers a singing harp and Things 1 and 2.

“Back on ground, we have Jill with a nasty father who, with the aid of an estate agent, is determined to build a sewage works.

“Needless to say we also have a cow and help of a garden gnome.”

The production is the group’s seventh in a row and stars 14 adults and six children, as well as a number of young dancers from Ash and Mongeham.

Mr Jones said: “The village panto has become a part of the community life of Ash and it is just like panto used to be.

“Our aim is to just make enough on the ticket sales and adverts in the programme to break even.”

The panto opens tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm and is on at the same time on the following three days, as well as at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, January 23-24.

Tickets from £3 are available from the post office at Londis, Ash, email hazel.tony1@gmail.com or ring 01304 812076