Full disclosure: I was invited along to this performance by a friend using press tickets via NLive Radio.
What’s your Christmas tradition? Putting up the tree, hanging stockings, visiting Santa’s Grotto? I’m a fan of all of those, but for me, seeing a panto is an absolute must. Apparently I was four years old when I was first taken to see a panto for the first time, and this was Cinderella in 1992 at Royal & Derngate. There’s been a few years when I haven’t been for various reasons and it’s always felt like there was something missing.
I’ve seen Peter Pan at Derngate at least three times before, always traditional adaptations of the JM Barrie story with the usual panto elements included, so this year’s production, The All New Adventures of Peter Pan, had me intrigued to see what would be different. The performance I attended was a rainy Sunday lunchtime, three days into the run, so there was a lot of buzz and expectation in the foyer of what might lie ahead.
The show follows Poppy Sunshine, a young girl living in an orphanage who hears a bedtime story about Peter Pan. That night, Peter himself appears and whisks her away to Foreverland, the island next door to Neverland. There she meets the Lost Boys and Girls, mermaids, Colin the crocodile, and plenty of pirates. Together they must defeat Captain Arthur K. Hook, son of the infamous Captain James Hook, who is on the hunt for a bottle containing the “essence of pantomime.” His goal? To stop everyone having fun.
This is Evolution Productions’ fifth panto at Royal & Derngate, and the third I’ve seen, since they took over from Qdos/Crossroads in 2021. While their budgets are clearly smaller, and you don’t get the huge spectacle before the interval that Twins FX usually provide, such as a giant crocodile, Evolution shine in other areas.
The flying sequence, with its projected London skyline and outer-space visuals, was particularly effective. The smoke-filled bubbles were magical, something I’d not seen before, and the end-of-show streamers added a lovely flourish. There were also quite a few moments where various cast members appeared in the aisles or popped up from the side boxes, making the show feel very immersive and that the audience were part of the action instead of it just being confined to the stage. Be prepared to get wet too, as there was lots of shrieking when the cast squirted the audience with water pistols, and no one is safe, the jets have a long range. I was sitting in the middle of the stalls and got properly soaked!
Of the three Evolution pantos I’ve seen, last year’s Cinderella remains my favourite for its sharp, witty script. This year’s show took seemed to take a little while to get going and find its energy, and the plot felt thin in places. There’s more that could have been done with hunt for the “essence of pantomime” for example. That said, I enjoyed the topical jokes and local references that mostly landed well with the rest of the audience.
As with most pantos there is a formula with lots of comedic routines included. The wheelbarrow of cards, which has now become a regular feature, remains a clever way to deliver rapid-fire puns, and the ghost-bench routine is always a highlight with screams of ‘behind you’. You know what the punchline is going to be, but it’s always fun. This year’s show included a messy, inventive scene where Dame Sweet and assistant Charlie attempt to make Captain Hook an ice-cream treat, with predictably chaotic results and lots of slipping and sliding involved.
The cast are a delight to watch, full of enthusiasm and clearly enjoying themselves, almost to the point of being a little bit hyper. I’ve been to some professional pantos in the past where it feels like the cast are going through the motions and rushing it, as if they can’t wait for it to be over. It doesn’t feel the case here. It’s also worth pointing out that the cast all speak very clearly so you don’t miss any of the words.
John Thomson is the main star this year, a recognisable comic actor, who suitably hams up a rather posh but nasty Captain Hook earning every boo each time he was on stage. There is a particularly funny moment though when he tries to find the right spotlight to deliver a dramatic speech. Other times, though, I did think he seemed a little distant during musical numbers, looking over the heads of the audience, and a couple of mumbles of lines. There was also an odd moment where he suddenly abandons his plan to kill Peter Pan purely because he was sleeping, which didn’t quite make sense. Previously, I’ve seen Brian Blessed, John Altman and David Essex in the role. Brian Blessed still reigns supreme, for brilliantness at having the audience in the palm of his hand, but John Thomson definitely puts his a decent turn with his own stamp on it.
George Webster, known to many youngsters from CBeebies, has a small role as a pirate but still gets his moment to shine. Meanwhile Gordon Cooper returns as the Dame for a second year, relishing every moment and delighting in teasing Chris, the unfortunate front-row audience member who became a running joke throughout the performance.
The rest of the cast is made up of strong young performers. It’s also worth noting that Peter Pan was played by a male actor this year, unusual for a panto, where the role is traditionally played by a woman. I’ve seen Kirsten O’Brien and Sophie Lawrence take on the part before.
Throughout the show, there is a mix of pop hits and musical theatre numbers with rewritten lyrics to drive the story. Defying Gravity was a fitting and topical choice for the flying sequence, capitalising on the popularity of Wicked in cinemas. The mermaids’ rendition of Tina Turner’s version of Proud Mary was great fun, and From Now On from The Greatest Showman also made for an uplifting moment towards the end.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this was a fun way to spend a couple of hours wet Sunday afternoon in December. It’s not one that I would place in my top five pantos of all time, but it’s lively, family-friendly, and packed with enough energy and humour to keep all ages entertained. If you’re looking for festive fun at Royal & Derngate, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The All New Adventures of Peter Pan runs at Royal & Derngate theatre until December 31st 2025.
