If you’ve never done a ballet before then this is the show for you. Better than panto and a pacy production to entrance children of all ages, it's a world away from what you might be expecting.It crackles into action from the off with the Darling children going through an animated bedtime routine as Peter Pan’s shadow watches on.
Such is the slick quality of the show that when Peter finally sails in through the open bedroom window, it fits in so well with audience expectation that we simply sit back and marvel. Awe-inspiring too, is the flight scene with all three children and Peter leaving home for Neverland, floating dreamily through the stars.
Northern Ballet Theatre has quite rightly attracted the plaudits for this production, which at two hours just flies by to quicken the pulse.
It is a faithful telling of this famous old story – but without letting dialogue get in the way.
A feisty, jealous Tinkerbell does her best to scupper Wendy’s relationship with Peter, and even sacrifices her own life to save his. A little audience participation brings her back to life, while some Lost Boys, a few pirates, Captain Hook and a crocodile all serve to enrich the mix.
Highlights for us were the early scene where Peter fights with his own shadow, and the seven wonderful dancing mermaids – and although performing in a tight fishtail instead of tights can’t be easy, it didn’t stop the dancers from impressing.
Fantastic scenery helps the audience to really believe, the action switching from the Darling Family home, flying over London, then into the jungle, through the mermaids’ lagoon, the pirate ship and the Lost Children’s cave.
And while the dancers are doing the work on stage, the NBT Orchestra performs impeccably throughout, adding to the magical atmosphere.
The performance we saw featured...
- Peter Pan: David Ward
- Wendy: Pippa Moore
- Hook/Mr Darling: Kenneth Tindall
- Neverbird/Mrs Darling: Hannah Bateman
- Tinkerbell: Michela Paolacci
- Shadow: Thomas Aragones
- John: Sebastian Loe
- Michael: Jeremy Curnier
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