We set off for Durham on a are beautiful summers night on the last day of the school term, two adults and three children aged 8 to 12. A carnival mood carried us there and that mood endured the entire evening.
We were greeted at The Gala with the opportunity to buy mocktails in pirate themed glasses and given a cast list with children’s games on the back setting the tone for a family friendly child focused event. The Gala is a lovely light spacious venue, and children are warmly welcomed.
Now this wasn’t your usual Peter Pan and Wendy, that was clear from the start, modern, relevant but always huge fun and never preachy.
Serious issues that affect directly on children and young people, the climate crisis, bullying and feeling isolated were covered sensitively. This is an art form, and the play always feels like the magical other worldly place Never Neverland should be, social messaging on point but never compromising on fun.
The cast
Lucy Davis as Wendy is wonderful, her dance moves and physicality give her huge stage presence. Lucas Bradley Benson as Peter the boy who doesn’t grow up brings the audience touching moments which I won’t spoil.
Kieron Michael is the dastardly Captain Hook and the children and adults alike loved hating him. A fantastic panto-esque performance of fun and frivolity. “I’m shaking in my fabulous boots” made us giggle, the boots were fabulous! Hook and Smee were great multi-taskers, and the children loved the ending when they came out to collect rubbish, children lined up to hand in sweet wrappers receiving the clear message that we can all do our bit.
The sets were inventive and a small but perfectly formed cast covered multiple roles moving from the gritty city to Neverland and back again. Transitions were smooth and greatly aided by the medium of flight.
Tinkerbell enchanted us all and the concept of the famous fairy as a ball of fizzy light, never fully seen always imagined was cleverly conceived. Every child in the room and adult clapped furiously to ensure her tiny life and the life of all fairies was saved joyous!
Which way to your house?
Laura Turner’s adaptation of Peter Pan and Wendy really has something for everyone at all ages, dance, song, comedy and drama.
We left the theatre happy and chatted all the way back to Newcastle about the great time we had had. In no time at all we were almost home, which way to your house Lesley-Anne? Second star to the right and straight on till morning of course. Peter Pan and Wendy is playing at the Gala Theatre till Saturday 27 July.
Reviews from the children we took.
Sebby aged 8
”I like that the characters interact with us, and I love Wendy’s outfit “
Max aged 8
“I really enjoyed Peter Pan, it was very entertaining. My favourite character was Hook because he was silly and not like your usual horrible, nasty original Captains.
George aged 12
“I thoroughly enjoyed the show because the singing and dancing was really fabulous. Captain Hook had the best and funniest impressions I have ever seen.”
