The 2023 festive season has arrived! ‘The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan’ kicks off our coverage of Scotland’s theatre this Christmas. Our swashbuckling adventure follows Smee, May McSmee, Starky, Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinkerbell as we continue the tales of Neverland, and they face the infamous Captain Hook once more. Playing Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre until Sunday 31st December 2023.
Allan Stewart returns as Scotland’s favourite dame, Auntie May (May McSmee). This year Allan delivers joke after joke, skit after skit and song after song, this production seems like a playground for the seasoned performer. After 25 years on the King’s and now the Festival Theatre’s stages, you would think he would be slowing down, but this isn’t the case. Allan laps up the audience participation and the unpredictability of a live show. There’s a variety of stetches and stints, most notably ones featuring clam bikinis and also a fab Proclaimers cover.
Grant Stott knows the Edinburgh audience, consistently delivering hilarious villains for Capital Theatres’ Pantos. No matter how many times he says “Listen! Shush! Shut yer face!” the audience will boo louder and louder. Yet they do cheer when Grant tackles Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’, which surprisingly (sorry Grant) is one of the favourite musical numbers from this year’s production. Away from the music, in terms of the script, the heavy exposition is put to the side and Stott’s Hook is firmly focused on delivering the farcical antics with Allan, Jordan, and Clare. Captain Hook is a delicious (or should I say tidy?) character which Stott sinks his teeth into.
Speaking of Jordan Young, his version of Smee delivers one-liners galore and is a favourite for the kids with his endless energy and madcap humour. This is now Jordan’s fourth pantomime with Capital Theatres and it feels like he has been doing it forever, the Edinburgh audiences love his style of comedy and absolutely lap it up.
Clare Gray continues to shine in Pantoland, this year she takes on Starkey, one of Hook’s crewmates. It’s great to see her get stuck into some of the farcical antics with Jordan, Allan, and Grant, helping bring comedic mayhem to Edinburgh audiences. Joining Clare on Hook’s crew is dancing sensation Flawless, who perform mesmerizing choreo throughout the Panto, and even let Jordan join in at one point!
Of course, we need to talk about our three iconic heroes from the original J.M Barrie tale. Robyn Whyte provides stunning vocals and impressive tricks as Wendy. Our high-flying Tink is played by the brilliant Rebecca Stenhouse who brings confidence, powerful vocals, and great determination. Kieran Lynch is great fun as Peter Pan, bringing great energy and joyous wonder. These three performers are a welcome addition to the Pantoland family.
The ensemble for this production amplifies musical sequences, battles and the magic spectacle featured in this production. The ensemble are as follows; Erin Dodds, Cameron Flynn, Katy Kedslie, Amy Kent, Josh Kiernan, Ross Logan, Varrie McElwaine, Aimee Orr, Luke Perry, and Robert Sharpe.
Ed Curtis’ direction of ‘Peter Pan’ brings a quick-moving variety show, which embeds the audience firmly within Neverland, bringing wonder and merriment to adults and children alike. Harry Michaels and Allan Stewart’s script delivers in laughs, astonishment, and heart. Over the years it has become clear that the main plot of the King’s/Festival panto is very firmly sidetracked, and that the skits and jokes define the quality of the production, which is not necessarily a bad thing. This year there were loads of new comedic elements that made the Panto feel fresh to returning audiences. These skits were all hilarious, truly bringing a big helping of side-splitting comedy into the tale of ‘Peter Pan’. There was also the occasional golden oldie, to please those of us who have been attending for years. However, it’s exciting to see the comedic talents (Stott, Stewart, Young & Gray) enter new territory and ‘Peter Pan’ certainly delivered that.
In terms of music, Andy Pickering’s band sounded fabulous, this year there were notably more current/popular music choices made for them to tackle brilliantly, however, it feels there was room for more. Perhaps less original music?
Last but not least, who can forget the brilliant (and sometimes terrifying) spectacles!? With effects from The Twins FX and spellbinding video design from Duncan McLean, also accompanied by dazzling lighting design from Rory Beaton.
‘The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan’ is a fun swashbuckling outing from our Festival Theatre usuals. Parents and children alike will love this journey to Neverland.
Get your tickets here – https://www.capitaltheatres.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-pantomime-adventures-of-peter-pan/2151
Theatre Scotland 
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