'A Masterclass in Panto Comedy': Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal Nottingham

Neverland has come to Nottingham at the Theatre Royal! This brand-new panto tells the tale of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy and Captain Hook, alongside a fantastic cast of colourful characters as they explore Neverland. And the best part? You can catch it until Sunday 12th January 2025! 

The story of Peter Pan has been a firm family-favourite for generations, embodying themes of adventure, youth, courage and magic. This latest pantomime adaptation faithfully balances these themes with comedy sketches, a star-studded cast and fantastical sets, costumes and song and dance numbers. 

The cast includes a roster of famous faces including Gok Wan, Richard Winsor, Paul Chuckle, and Steve Hewlett; all of whom you will recognise from TV and stage with credits including Casualty, The Chuckle Brothers, Britain’s Got Talent and even previous performances at the Theatre Royal. Including some fantastic improv sketches, practical jokes and a liberal use of double entendre for the adults in the audience, the cast come together to deliver a masterclass in panto comedy. A particular highlight was a ventriloquist section that puts a volunteer from the audience in a starring role beneath the stage lights! Audience participation is a panto necessity, after all, so you will be glad to know that the audience is involved in many other sketches and the classic ‘OH NO YOU WON’T’ calls, which are a staple of the festive season for many. 

You will also enjoy fantastic performances by Aiden Carson as Peter Pan, Kate Stewart as Tinkerbell and Molly Farmer as Wendy, each delivering fantastic performances while dancing, singing, flying and even fighting! In fact, the set pieces come alive with the supporting cast and ensemble performers, offering a feast for the eyes with immaculate staging and effects which transport you onto the bow of the Jolly Roger, Peter’s Hideout and the nursery of the Darling children to name just a few. 

There are tons of local references to enjoy, including references to local areas including Mapperley, Ilkeston and Broxtowe. The jokes are woven into the dialogue and interspersed through the show just like the musical and dance numbers. For the songs, you will recognise the re-written hits including from the likes of Taylor Swift, which will make you want to sing along. 

And finally, you may not know that this story bears a brilliant local link. Although never confirmed, Nottingham Arboretum park has widely been said to have been the inspiration for Neverland. J.M Barrie did indeed live in Nottingham before he wrote Peter Pan, so it’s definitely a possibility. But we'll leave you to decide if Neverland did plant its magical roots in Nottingham. 

Access Performances 

The Theatre Royal is also performing the show in various Accessible versions, including Sign Language Interpreted, Relaxed and Captioned performances. Please see the full dates and times below: 

• Sign Language Interpreted: 12/12/2024 13:30 
• Audio Described: 14/12/2024 14:30 
• Sign Language Interpreted: 15/12/2024 13:30 
• Captioned: 04/01/2025 14:30 
• Audio Described: 05/01/2025 13:30 
• Relaxed Performance: 08/01/2025 13:30 
• Sign Language Interpreted: 10/01/2025 19:15 

Prices 

Prices range from £19.50 - £45 depending on the performance and your seat location. Please note that if you’re bringing a child aged up to 12 months, your child doesn’t need their own seat or ticket.