Local theatre maker celebrates community pantomime success in Sutton
Sutton-in-Ashfield theatre maker Jack Burrows continues to bring creativity and community spirit to the local arts scene, following the success of this year’s pantomime production.
Born and raised in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Jack grew up on the town’s Carsic Estate, and has dedicated his professional life to theatre-making. His work spans acting, writing, directing, leading school workshops, running co‑creation projects, and delivering youth theatre programmes. This includes working with Mansfield Palace Theatre, as well as through his own company, Centre Stage Academy, which marked its 10th anniversary last year.
Jack began his career studying a HND in Performing Arts, later completing his degree after a decade‑long break. At 22, he founded Behind Bars Theatre Company, so named because its members all worked in pubs at the time, Mansfield’s only new-writing theatre company at that time. He later joined Mansfield Palace Theatre’s ‘Write Track’ programme, before launching Studio 82 Theatre Company to support emerging writers.
His varied career includes work with Mansfield Palace Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, Unanima Theatre Company and Zest. In 2022, he became an Associate Artist with New Perspectives Theatre Company, leading to professional acting and directing roles on Road to Zandra, and the research and development for the production Sixteen, which later toured under the direction of co‑writer Jayne Williams.
He also delivers to a wide range of schools in Mansfield and Ashfield through ongoing work with Mansfield Palace Theatre.
Jack’s long-standing relationship with ATTFE College in Sutton in Ashfield began in 2012, when now Principal Liz Barrett OBE DL invited him to direct the college pantomime. Balancing this with directing a contemporary adaptation of Pinocchio, Jack accepted, and has led the annual pantomime ever since under the banner of Sutton Centre Stage Group.
He credits the pantomime team as “the true stars of the show,” recognising their dedication and commitment over five months of intense preparation each year, despite many holding demanding full‑time jobs.
Across 14 years, the group has never failed to deliver a production.
During the 2020 lockdown, they created an online version using Zoom, edited by Ken Mead Jnr.
In 2025, while the theatre was closed, they staged an innovative theatre‑in‑the‑round pantomime using the former Sutton Community Academy school ice rink. Jack praises the cast, including young performers from Centre Stage Academy, for consistently adapting to unusual circumstances and giving their all for audiences.
This year’s performance in the brand‑new Cornerstone venue was a particular highlight. Jack expressed his delight at welcoming audiences into the new space and hopes many will return to enjoy future theatre offerings.
Jack will next appear in Will and Testament, an anthology of Shakespeare’s works directed by Ashfield resident Rebecca Morris, performing on Monday 16th and Sunday 22nd March 2026 at Nottingham Theatre Royal, as part of the Shakespeare Festival.