Peter Pan - Review - People's Theatre

Peter Pan 

People's Theatre

9th December, 2023

Based on the novel by J M Barrie

Adapted by Tom Whalley

December has been a bit dismal so far this year, hasn't it? Bus strikes, train strikes, rain.A little bit of snow added a hint of wintry sparkle for s few days and then more rain, and my goodness, such greyness! So it was good to get out of the rain on Saturday afternoon for a burst of colour and some seasonal silliness at the People's Panto. 

This year thye are off on a grand adventure to Neverland with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. 

It starts with lots of sparkle as the glitterball spins and the lights is reflected around the auditorium like so much fairy dust, enough to completely entrance the little girl sitting next to me! But keep a tight hold of your drink and your popcorn (ok, not popcorn, but maybe your 20p mix-up) as Tinkerbell makes her flashbang entrance. This is no delicate Disneyfied Tink though, this one - played ferociously by Rhiannon Wilson - comes with Doc Martens and an attitude to match! She certainly got the Panto started!

And then we are transported to London and the home of the Darlings, where the children are getting ready for bed, and Mr and Mrs Darling are preparing for a night out. Mr Darling is impatient and grumpy, and not prepared to listen to the stories the children have to tell - an finally announces that it's high time Wendy grew up and left the nursery. And so begins the adventure with the boy who never grows up... An adventure with fairies, and pirates, and mermaids, with kidnappings and skulduggery, with friendships, loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness. And maybe some tough justice for the bad guys. Maybe - I don't want to give too much away. Tick, tock...

It's a fun romp with all the usual bad jokes, fabulous musical numbers and dance routines, and lots of audience participation - though on Saturday the cast had their work cut out to keep the audience involved - I think one or two of the grown-ups weren't paying proper attention at times! 

This year the musical numbers were more modern - a move away from the obvious and familiar chart toppers of the past, which gave the singers a chance to show off their indivudual range and talents, but was perhaps a little less easy for the audience to join in and sing along (or maybe that's just my age showing?)  

There's a lot of girl power in this Panto - Wendy (Daisy Burden)  holds her own against the Neverlanders and the Mermaids, and the Chief's daughter, Cheryl (Minnie Dobson) is a full on Geordie lass who you'd not mess with down the Bigg Market! There are none of your simpering heroines here justwaiting to be rescued - though Cheryl does have to be rescued from drowning, obviously, otherwise there'd be a big hole in the plot at one point!  Watch out for some tough girl routines - with some subtle body language between Cheryl and Wendy - unusual in a panto and easy to miss! 

Stirling performances all round from the cast and the dancers, but especially from Joe Robson as Peter Pan, who has such presence on stage and, and Luke Newey as Smee - who does a grand job of keeping the audience engaged, despite their reluctance at times!  

Lots of laughs - some audible sobs when Tinkerbell drinks the poison! - and plenty of boos for the baddy! And, of course, there's a man in a frock...What more could you ask for in a panto? 

Peter Pan flies until the 17th and there are still a few seats available but be quick before they disappear like lost boys from their prams! Book online at www.peoplestheatre.co.uk 

*photo credit: Paul Hood

Denise Sparrowhawk