Pantomime Stars to Bring Festive Magic to Jersey Battle of Flowers

Jersey, Channel Islands — Friday 7th August — Three performers from this year's Jersey Opera House pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, will bring a little festive magic to the Battle of Flowers on Friday 14 August, giving islanders their first opportunity to meet members of this year's cast.

Taking part in the parade will be Lauren Lane, Luke Drewell and Naiya Romayo, who will star in Jersey Opera House's first ever professional Christmas pantomime, running from 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Lauren will play Jess, Luke takes on the role of Billy, and Naiya (who is from Jersey), will appear as the enchanting Fairy Sugarsnap in this year's production, presented by Jersey Opera House and Evolution Productions.

As they make their way through the Battle of Flowers, the trio will be meeting the public and giving audiences a glimpse of the festive fun to come this Christmas.

The appearance also marks the public launch of this year's principal cast, led by George Akid as Dame Trott, with Jack Whittle as Luke Backinanger, alongside Jersey’s own Joss J Macdonald as Jack Trott!

Along with the cast announcement, Jersey Opera House is delighted to announce The Channel Islands Co-operative Society as headline sponsor of Jack and the Beanstalk. The sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to investing in the island's cultural life and creating memorable experiences for families and communities across Jersey.

Sebastian Warrack, Chief Executive of Jersey Opera House, said:

"We're thrilled that Lauren, Luke and Naiya will represent Jersey Opera House at this year's Battle of Flowers. They're all fantastic performers, and we're especially pleased that Jersey's own Naiya Romayo will be part of introducing this year's pantomime to audiences at one of the island's most celebrated community events.

"We're also delighted to welcome The Channel Islands Co-operative Society as headline sponsor of Jack and the Beanstalk. Their commitment to supporting community initiatives and bringing people together makes them a natural partner for our festive season, and we're excited to work together to make this year's pantomime a truly memorable experience for audiences of all ages."

Mark Cox, Chief Executive of The Channel Islands Co-operative Society, said:

"The Jersey Opera House is an important part of our island's cultural heritage, and we're incredibly proud to support its first professional Christmas pantomime as headline sponsor. At the Coop, we're committed to investing in the communities we serve, and this partnership is about helping create moments that bring people together. As a food retailer, we're naturally pleased to see a story where a bag of beans turns out to be a very good investment."

Emily Wood, Producer from Evolution Productions said:

"We're thrilled to be sharing our spectacular production of Jack and the Beanstalk with the audiences of Jersey Opera House. With this fantastically talented cast, awesome sets and costumes, and hilarious comedy, it is sure to be a night of unforgettable family entertainment! 

It's never too early to book and we can't wait to welcome you to the theatre's first professional pantomime!"

Co-produced with the multi award winning Evolution Productions, Jack and the Beanstalk marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Jersey Opera House's Christmas programme, promising spectacular sets, dazzling costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy, incredible live music and all the magic of a classic family pantomime.

Visitors to this year's Battle of Flowers are encouraged to look out for Lauren, Luke and Naiya along the parade route and discover more about the giant adventure waiting at Jersey Opera House this Christmas.

Principal Cast

Dame Trott - George Akid
Luke Backinanger - Jack Whittle
Jess - Lauren Lane
Jack Trott - Joss J Macdonald
Billy - Luke Drewell
Fairy Sugarsnap - Naiya Romayo
Jack and the Beanstalk
18 December 2026 – 3 January 2027