RHYL pantomime star Amy-Jane Ollies is back where it all began as the production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Pavilion Theatre continues.
Known for her roles in Hollyoaks and Casualty, she is currently playing Princess Jill in the Christmas panto, having also starred in the Aladdin one last year.
Her career has come full circle, with Amy-Jane having first performed at the Pavilion Theatre in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
“I’m from this area, so I’m always happy to come back and do Rhyl,” Amy-Jane told the Journal.
“I’m from Prestatyn, so this was my home town theatre and funnily enough the first panto I ever did was here – I was a juvenile dancer and it was Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Part of an all-star cast, Ms Ollies said she is bringing a unique, “feisty” touch to the character.
MORE: ‘Allo ‘Allo! star Arthur Bostrom a ‘man in a frock’ in Rhyl panto
She said: “I think sometimes with princess in panto, it can be played quite mild, she can be a bit of a weaker character.
“In more recent years, it’s nice to see more feisty elements brought to the role and I’ll bring that, give her a bit of heart and courage.
“I love Jack and the Beanstalk, it’s one of your more traditional ones because a lot of the time we tend to see the Disney adaptations - I like the traditional stories, so I think this works really well as a panto.”
Back at her hometown theatre, she said there was an added motivation to make the production “as good as it can be”.
Amy-Jane added: “When it’s your hometown theatre, you want it to be as good as it can be.
“This is such a beautiful theatre, they’ve done so much work to it, it’s lovely to see some progression and to see those bigger names here is lovely.”
Jack and The Beanstalk opened at the Pavilion Theatre on December 9, and will run through until New Year’s Eve, December 31.
Alongside Amy-Jane Ollies are chart-topping singer Chico, Britain’s Got Talent finalist duo Jamie Leahey and Chuck, Casualty star Amanda Henderson, The Bill actor Graham Cole, and ‘Allo ‘Allo! star Arthur Bostrom.
This story follows country boy Jack, who trades the family cow for a handful of magic beans, which grow into an enormous beanstalk reaching up into the clouds.
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