Jack Brett will play the title character in the Derby Theatre 2017 festive production of Mike Kenny’s adaptation of Peter Pan.
New to Derby Theatre audiences, Brett played Peter Pan in Kenny’s Underneath a Magical Moon at York Theatre Royal in 2016.
Also making their first appearance at the theatre will be Sally Ann Staunton (Wendy) who played Mother in Mike Kenny’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf for tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal in 2013, Ru Hamilton (Michael Darling and other characters) who appeared in Daniel Buckroyd’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Farm Boy for Mercury Theatre, Colchester in June 2017 and Julian Capolei (John Darling and other characters) who was in the Ramps on the Moon and New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich tour of The Who’s Tommy.
Returning to Derby Theatre will be: Neal Craig (Captain Hook) who played sadistic Denny and lecherous Welsh lorry driver Kirkas in Mike Kenny’s adaptation of Siobhan Dowd’s novel Solace of the Road in 2015, Esme Sears (Tinkerbell) who played the title role in Mike Kenny’s Cinderella in 2015, Jack Quarton (Smee and other characters) who played the White Rabbit in the 2016 production of Alice in Wonderland at Derby Theatre and Elizabeth Eves (Mrs Darling and other characters) who played the Duchess in Alice in Wonderland.
Neal Craig, Esme Sears, Jack Quarton and Elizabeth Eves all hail from the East Midlands.
Derby Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Brigham directs. She said, “our version will be a fun and stylish interpretation for audiences aged five and above. Our Peter will be fun, feisty, incredibly inquisitive and ready to soar and explore the mysterious Neverland with a few quirky characters and creatures in tow, all who sing and play live instruments.”
Neil Irish is set designer, Tim Heywood costume designer and Emma Jones lighting designer. Peter Pan will run from Saturday 2 December until Saturday 6 January 2018.
Meanwhile, in the Studio, Hiccup Theatre and Derby Theatre will cook up a new version of The Gingerbread Man, also directed by Brigham. The cast includes John Holt Roberts, Paula James and Ivan Stott. It runs from Tuesday 5 until Sunday 31 December.