8th December 2018
The much loved tale Peter Pan has been dusted down again for this year’s panto at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal.
Starring comedian Joe Pasquale (him with the squeaky voice) and John Challis (Boycie from Only Fools and Horses) the Theatre Royal has once again wheeled out the big guns this December. Backed up by a suitably boyish looking Jack McNeil as Peter Pan and very cheeky Lucy Evans as Tinkerbell, expect flying, dancing pirates and lots of fairy dust.
We all know the story about Peter Pan and his battles in Neverland with Captain Hook. However, it’s always fun to pop down to the Theatre Royal on the run-up to Christmas to see what special effects and trickery they have up their sleeve to enhance this year’s chosen tale.
Joe Pasquale is absolutely hilarious as Smee. His fast and furious repertoire is delightful but so full on that it’s almost exhausting to watch at times! His regular deviations from the script will ensure that the cast will be kept on their toes until the last performance, with Peter Pan valiantly taking the brunt of the merriment. The jokes come thick and fast and the majority of them are actually very funny. The casting is excellent, with everyone getting the opportunity to shine – there’s even an appearance by the stage manager.
With stunning scenery, songs reworked from hit musicals including The Greatest Showman and Chicago, water guns and a rather impressive crocodile, this year’s panto has it all. The wonderful 12 Days of Christmas is a show on its own and the underwater adventure has some of the best 3D graphics I’ve seen. John Challis is perfect as the dastardly Captain Hook and Paul Gabriel does a splendid job as the ‘not quite as evil as he should be’ shipmate Starkey.
Peter Pan is an absolutely smasher. See it at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until 13th January 2019. Book here.