Paul Ketley -  Director / Dame Dolly Trott

Paul is delighted to be returning to Ashford for this pantomime season. He is a self confessed pantomime addict and has appeared in many productions around the country. Jack and the Beanstalk marks Paul's 30th  professional pantomime.

Previous pantomime appearances include: Fleshcreep in “Jack and the Beanstalk”, Widow Twankey in “Aladdin”, Ugly Sister in “Cinderella”, King Rat in “Dick Whittington”, Nurse Nellie in “Snow White” and “Sleeping Beauty”,  Dame Dolly in “Jack and the Beanstalk” and Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington. Paul was a member of the resident CTP company at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, playing baddie and dame for 12 years.

Paul graduated with a BAhons and has a vast experience of writing, directing and performing including work with Cameron Macintosh: “Cats”, “Les Miserables” and “Phantom of the Opera”; He has worked with the BBC, Radio London and The Theatre Royal Stratford East. Prior to relocating to Kent, Paul was the Artistic Director for The Open Door Theatre in East London for 10 years.

Stage credits include: Joe in “The Matchgirls, Laurence in “Abigails Party”, John Barrett in “Dangerous Obsession”, Mr Briggs in "Our Day Out", Ratty in “Wind in the Willows”, Geoffrey in "Stepping Out", Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors", and Fagin in "Oliver".

Rob Hancox -Co-Director/ Fleshcreep

Rob has performed around the world as a cabaret singer working extensively on cruise ships.   He has also had a few small television roles in the past.

Rob delighted to be playing Fleshcreep in this production of Jack and the Beanstalk, having appeared in Ashford last year as Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty. Previous pantomime appearances have included, King Rat in "Dick Whittington", Ugly Sister in "Cinderella", Abanazar in "Aladdin", Merlin in "Sleeping Beauty" and Fleshcreep in "Jack and the Beanstalk", all at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

Stage credits include, Bill Sykes in "Oliver", 

Omar Gawd - Jack Trott

Omar has been performing since he was a child. Growing up, he took part in many local pantomimes and by the time he was a teen, earned some BBC credits and a national UK tour of the King and I as Prince Chulalongkorn.

Omar went to train at KSA Performing Arts, Bromley, earning a Distinction in their two year Musical Theatre intensive course. Special mentions to the wonderful years he spent at Canterbury College (BTEC Musical Theatre), Phoenix Performing Arts (Canterbury) and Mary Woodman’s Dance School (Canterbury).

Over the last decade, Omar has worked all over the world, performing with many different companies. Some favourite credits include; Charlie Chaplin at Universal Studios Singapore, various pantomimes in the UK and Spain, and Christmas elf Tricky Dicky in Lapland, Finland. On Disney Cruise Line’s ships the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, Omar took part in many theatre shows, character performances and exciting Marvel stunt shows, whilst sailing through Europe, Australia, Bahamas, Canada and the Americas. 

Now, getting back to his pantomime roots, Omar is over the moon to be taking on the role as Jack in Ashford’s Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas season.

Charley Byrne -  Silly Billy

After 10 months of spreading joy and wonder across the globe as an entertainment manager for TUI, Charley is delighted to be returning to Ashford for this years pantomime season having appeared as Jingles the Jester in "Sleeping Beauty" last Christmas.

Charley couldn't be happier to be sharing the stage with such a talented cast and is looking forward to welcoming you all to the magical world of pantomime.

His previous pantomime appearances include, Buttons in "Cinderella, Wishy Washy in "Aladdin", Captain Crabstick in "Dick Whittington" ,  Silly Billy in ""Jack and the Beanstalk" and Muddles in "Snow White"

Lottie Coates - Fairy Beansprout    



Jill Williams - Producer 

Jill is and experienced theatre producer, director and costume designer. She was previously the Production Manager for Open Door Theatre in London.

Previous production credits include, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Sinbad, Our Day Our, Little Shop of Horrors, Don't Know Where Don't Know When, Easy Street, Abigails Party, Curtain Up on Murder, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and Stepping Out.

For Blue Phoenix Productions - Jack and the Beanstalk 2019/20, Dick Whittington 2021/22, Aladdin 2022, Cinderella 2023.

Jill is delighted to be producing this production of Snow White.