"Peter Pan" written by Alan McHugh.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

If you've got those grey Winter blues, this is a pantomime that will help you shake it off. Is that a cue for a song? More of that later.....

We were told right at the start that we were in for a truly unique performance, and that was exactly what we got. Unfortunately Gok Wan was ill so couldn't perform tonight - all down to a dodgy prawn or shrimp, or something, and I loved the irony that as Gok was playing The Magic Merman that it was seafood that laid him low for this performance. In Gok's place was Peter Pan's Director/Choreographer, but more of that later......

J.M. Barrie's novel "Peter Pan" is a quite dark novel, very different to the pantomime version, and this version of the pantomime is different again, with Captain Hook being swallowed by the giant jaws of the Tick Tock (or is that Tik Tok) Crocodile just before the end of Act One, but more of that later......

This is pantomime and everything is bright and fun, and this cast, despite having to replace Captain Hook just weeks before opening night, really make this show possibly one of the strongest pantomimes in the East Midlands this year. And I am happy to say that on Sunday night, the audience were also one of the best audiences that I have seen this season. They were loud and enthusiastic and responded with gusto to all of the actors within this pantomime.

I was really looking forward to getting an eyeful of Gok, but this was not to be, but hopefully his dicky tummy will have vanished for this week's run, or is that runs? Anyway, stepping in at the very last minute Director and Choreographer Alan Burkitt stepped into the breach and had it thrust upon him to save the show, and what a brilliant job he did with this role. He sounded like Gok and had that naughtiness that Gok has whenever you see him on the TV, and nobody cared that he had the script on stage with him - I'd forgive anyone who masked it with a glittery clipboard as Alan did! But seriously, the old adage "the show must go on" was made for situations such as these and when you have someone who can ad lib his way through losing his place on the script and still come out of it being funny and completely unflustered, then you can do nothing but heap praise on such a star. Alan Burkitt I am sure that Nottingham, I and your fellow cast members salute you, Sir.

Richard Winsor also stepped into the breach a few weeks ago when Denise Welch stepped down from playing Captain Hook, only the second woman to play Hook in panto, the first being Jennifer Saunders, due to ill health. I am sure that we all wish Denise a speedy recovery for the New Year. I have seen Richard several times on the Theatre Royal Stage as part of Matthew Bourne's New Adventures ballet productions and also back in 2019 when he took the lead role as Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever". I am humble enough to mention that in that production I was not too complimentary about Richard's singing skills and that his dance moves seemed a little detached. As the wonderfully evil Hook, his singing is powerful and his moves are noteworthy and really shows former Hooks, like a certain Baywatch star, really how to play this part! Richard is also a Nottinghamshire lad, but he is not the only local in this pantomime. But more of that later......

Paul Chuckle plays Starkey and returns to Nottingham pantomimes, and have we missed him? That is of course a rhetorical question! Paul has so much experience in the entertainment business that walking on stage and being funny must be as natural as walking outside his front door. Everyone loves Paul and he reminds us why we do by including in the act his "to me, to you" catchphrase and his welcome of "Hellooooo". These also keep us reminded of his late brother Barry, along with Paul, two of the funniest comedians ever to grace any stage. His comedy is timeless and keeps bringing us more twists on classic comedy sketches, including the scene with the "idle" shopping trolley, cleverly parodying a certain low price superstar. 

I loved the section where, instead of there being four children brought up on stage to tell us what the best part of the panto was, only to be told either "all of it" or "I don't know", this time three men and a woman were brought up on stage and followed certain instructions from his reading of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". This made sure that the kids managed to enjoy this section by having a laugh at the expense of adults, and also made for a refreshing break from the panto norm. The goody bags for the four chosen ones though were a lot more interesting that those for kids!

Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett played Smee, accompanied by his sidekick Arthur Lager; well Steve had a hand in his appearance in any case. Steve's comedy is saucy but very funny, but he knows that he can get away with anything because he can blame it all on Arthur and some of his antics. I have always found making someone else look slightly silly on stage thanks to a ventriloquist mask, you know the sort that fits over the victim, sorry volunteer's  lower half of the face enabling the ventriloquist to operate the jaw section, very comical, and Steve in this area did not disappoint. Steve is the sort of bloke you want to take to the pub to buy a few pints for because you know that he is going to be excellent company. It's that blokey feel that he brings to this pantomime and deserves to be called one of the best comedians treading the boards today. I don't know if they do say that, but they should in my opinion.

Tinkerbell is played by Kate Stewart. It's no secret when I say that this beautiful lady also has a beautiful voice. She brings out that playful, nay mischievous and quite jealous side of this magical sprite wonderfully and shines as bright as her fairy trail throughout.

Molly Farmer plays Wendy Darling, and in this production of "Peter Pan", the darling Family are not as prominent to the storyline, and we do not meet them until the three siblings have actually met Peter when he flies in through their window.

Matthew Allen plays John Darling. Matthew is one of those actors who is lucky enough to be able to actually get away with playing a young teenage boy like John Darling so convincingly, yet also to have the kudos of acting in some classic plays like "The Government Inspector", "Much Ado About Nothing", "Hedda Gabler", "A Doll's House" and "Table For Six", as well as having the experience previously of playing other characters in other versions of "Peter Pan".  Matthew has one of those faces that you can't help looking at, he is wonderfully animated and his physical theatre skills and dance expertise in this panto are a joy to watch.

There are three young actors sharing the role of the youngest Darling, Michael Darling, but on Press Night (Sunday) we saw Harley Butler, who is a trainee of Nottingham's Attic School, as are the other two job share actors Zen Hall and Darragh (please take your storm away Darragh) Sweeney. I am sure that Zen and Darragh are just as excellent in this part as Harley, who looks so at home on the stage. He sings, he dances, he challenges Hook and has the best smile. This is not the first time though that I have seen Harley on stage as he was in "Kipps: The New Half A Sixpence Musical" and "Kinky Boots The Musical", both at the Theatre Royal. This is Harley's debut pantomime, and what a little star he is turning out to be.

And last, but by no stretch of the imagination least, Peter Pan, who is played by Nottingham's very own Aiden Carson. I have known Aiden for a good few years now and have reviewed him on a local level and he is also one of the nicest people who is also still grounded. He has a great voice for musicals and his energy levels are as high as his high flying skills. Aiden deserves every bit of praise for his swash buckling and fun interpretation of the boy who never grew up. This pantomime feels really local with the Nottingham trio of Aiden, Harley and Richard, and from the audience reaction, Nottingham loves their home grown stars as well.

The energetic ensemble are Harrison Creech, Oliver Ferro, Jack Frame, Paris Kelly, Xavier Pellin, Jodie Ross, Karys Rozario and Poppy Smallman.

Directed and choreographed by Alan Burkitt. This panto is fast and fun with some fantastic choreography which fitted the adult ensemble as well as the younger cast members, but what else would you expect from a choreographer you choreograph for some of the big Strictly stars. Alan is assisted by David Winters in the choreography.

Great lighting design by Chris Winn and a sound design to match by Justin Teasdale.

The costumes, as only to be expected are wonderful, especially the one for Gok and the adult ensemble throughout. 

Musical Director is Charles Ingles.

This high flying pantomime is another smash hit filled with some wonderful catchy musical numbers, great dance routines, some brilliant comedy sketches and jokes and enough energy to light up the National Grid. You can see this sensational slice of seasonal fun at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Sunday 12 January 2025.