Everyone Deserves a Chance to Fly!
Naomi MacKay watched The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre – where the show runs until 5 January 2025.
It’s that time of year again – oh yes it is! Aylesbury’s annual panto flies into town, bringing with it a swashbuckling, high-flying feast of fun for all the family.
This year’s fare is a tad different – Peter Pan is not usually your average panto – but The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook manages to bring all the familiar favourites (although there’s no Dame this year), along with some new additions, plus fairy dust, pyrotechnics – and of course a lot of flying.
The tale of the Boy Who Never Grew Up gets a modern twist as we are brought into the 21st century – with Wendy Darling a centenarian great great grandmother – and her smartphone-obsessed great great granddaughter Emily joining Peter on an adventure in Neverland.
The modern setting allows for plenty of jokes about selfies and social media – and also the chance to introduce the TikTok Croc in place of the old ticking crocodile.
Talking of TikTok, the music is cracking – there’s songs from musicals for the theatre fans – and of course no panto this year would be complete without a nod to Wicked. Plus TikTok songs and dances to please the teens and tweens, and some cheesy classics for the parents.
This time, Captain Hook is back – and Emily and Peter must try to defeat him once more.
Panto stars don’t always impress, but this year’s cast are all on point – and showing off some fabulous singing talent. Bradley Riches (Netflix’s Heartstopper, ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother 2024) makes the most of his musical theatre degree to put on a charming performance, while West End star Emma Jay Thomas (Miss Saigon, MAMMA MIA!) impresses in her dual role as Emily Darling’s mother and Ethel the Mermaid.
Leanne Garretty (Only Fools & Horses and We Will Rock You) plays Tinker Bell on rollerskates – no mean feat – and is surrounded by her baby belles. On the night we watched they were an impressive group of young dancers from the Castielli School of Dance.
The role of Captain Hook goes to Mark Moraghan (Holby City and Coronation Street) who is clearly enjoying being a baddie.
No Aylesbury panto would be complete without BBC Three Counties Radio’s Andy Collins, who plays Smee this year, accompanied by his sidekick pirates the Nitwits, who bring both comedy and acrobatics to the show. The highlight (although maybe not for Andy as he careers around the theatre in hot pursuit) is the 12 Days of Christmas song – expect toilet rolls flung into the audience, and a high flying water fight!
For me, Christmas hasn’t begun until we’ve been to Aylesbury’s panto – and this year’s show does not disappoint. Book your tickets and pack your water pistols!
Tickets are available at: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury (bkg fee) or call 0844 871 7615 (Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per min plus your phone company’s access charge).