HAVING been a top panto performer for a number of years, Phil Walker made the bold step to not only star in but to write and direct one of the area’s biggest Christmas shows last year.

And now he’s back at Preston Guild Hall at the helm of Jack and the Beanstalk in which he stars with Linda Nolan.

“There were moments last year when I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat wondering what the hell have I done,” laughed Phil. “You suddenly realise ‘hang on, this is all on me’. There are a lot of people relying on you but I’ve been lucky that I’ve got good people around me which makes it a lot easier.

“And after doing it last year I knew what to expect a bit more. but there are there are always surprises waiting round the corner.”

Phil admits that he’s relieved that the show is up and running which allows him to concentrate just on performing.

“I was so relieved when we did the first dress run,” he said. “I though ‘finally I can just be me and be Jack,

“When you are directing it, you are jumping around with two different heads. You want to see what it’s like from out front but you want to be in the story.

“Now we’re up and running, it’s a complete relief. I can just let it run and enjoy it.”

Phil started working on the show back in February.

“This is fourth one I’ve written and if I get an idea for a scene or a sketch, I’ll just write that down and weave it into the story.

“I’ve seen a few pantos that don’t do much of the plot but I like to have a good story in there. If you have that in and among all the other elements of a pantomime, the kids like to follow it.

“It’s nice also to put a bit of a moral message in there, I like to do that, so for this show with the giant there are messages about bullying because he is a bully and that resonates with the kids.”

Phil says he has learned a lot from taking on the director role.

“In the past I’ve just done the pantomime and you take it for granted but when you are involved in it from the ground up you do appreciate all the hard work and effort that goes behind it all.”

And he’s particularly impressed with the results for this year’s show at the Guild Hall.

“The set is the star of the show as well as the cast,” he said. “This year it’s the best set I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. It looks absolutely stunning.

“It’s like opening a pop up book. It really jumps out at you.

“Pantomime is so completely different from the stand-up I do during the rest of the year but that’s why I love it so much.”

Jack and the Beanstalk, Preston Guild Hall, until Thursday, January 5. For show times and tickets contact 01772 804444.