Wellingborough panto at Castle Theatre brings Peter Pan to stage with talents of homegrown dame on show
Crocodiles, pirates, a baddy with a hook, a bloke dressed as a woman and a boy who can fly can mean only one thing – Peter Pan.
Castle Theatre’s annual panto is set to transform the Wellingborough venue into Neverland as the ever-popular Christmas spectacular looks set to break box office records for the annual show.
Known as the most expensive and technical panto to stage due to the need to fly, cast members are looking forward to treading the boards – as well as flying over them.
Gary L Johnson, the Wellingborough born-and-bred dame, will return this season as the dame Mrs Smee.
He said: “It’s wonderful to be back once again. I don’t take it for granted. This is where I started as a kid. I came to the panto when I was little. The local audiences are so good. Over the years they have grown up with the shows. They know they are going to have a good time and see a good show.”
As well as Peter Pan (Jack Trinder), local children, who are still to be cast as Michael and John, will join Wendy, played by Holly Topping to take to the air.
Holly said: “That’s why I wanted to do Peter Pan. My Wendy is going to be feisty. She’s going to have a bit more about her.”
Bringing comic relief are Captain Hook and his pirate crew to ensure laughs aplenty and classic comedy routines.
Aidan Dunlop and Laura-Jayne Woods as Stinky and Starkey the pirates are looking forward to interacting with audiences and their cast mates.
He said: “I love the slop scene. Getting your cast mates messy is the best bit.”
Laura-Jayne added: “I’ve not done Peter Pan before and even though we don’t get to fly, we do get to do some sailing.”
With all the school performance tickets sold out, director Martin Cleverley hopes 2024 will be the theatre’s most successful.
He said: “The message is most definitely purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. So far we have sold 11,000 tickets. Last year we had 187 young people audition, this year 289 auditioned. In 2018, 9,980 saw the panto in 2023, 20,547 saw the panto. More and more people want to get involved."
Preparation for theatre’s 30th anniversary will see a revival of Annie, the first musical staged at the venue.
Martin said: “We will bringing the biggest ever programme of live events.”
For tickets go to www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/castle-theatre/whats-on/peter-pan.