Villain of the Year at the British Soap Awards in 2010, Larry Lamb will play Captain Hook in The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan at Derby’s Assembly Rooms.
The actor won the accolade for playing Archie Mitchell in EastEnders. He is also known as Mick Shipman in Gavin and Stacey.
He returns to the role he played two years ago in his first panto which was in St Albans.
Lamb will be joined by George Sampson (Britain’s Got Talent and Waterloo Road) as Peter Pan.
Mike “Squeaky” McClean returns to Derby to play villainous Hook’s shipmate Smee while Jason Sutton is Dame Able Mabel.
Directors, a lighting designer, riggers, a large stage crew and a special-effects film company hooked up to create the first flight from the Edwardian rooftops of London to Neverland.
Matt Veitch, lighting designer for pantomime producers Paul Holman Associates, said, “This year’s production has required an enormous lighting and special-effects rig using state-of-the-art equipment that's taken a large crew several days to install in the venue.
“The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan is a great challenge for a lighting designer and this production is shaping up to be one of the most complex shows my team and I have been involved in this year—it will be a spectacular arrival come opening night and we’re very excited!”
Another challenge for the team has been creating the magic and illusion of the fairy Tinker Bell.
An idea which began blossoming earlier in the year has now been brought to life as the magical fairy sparks into life from an exploding ball of light.
Speaking about George Sampson’s performance in rehearsals as Peter Pan, artistic director Lee Waddingham said, “I’ve been blown away by his cool attitude!
“He clearly has a head for heights and makes a fearless Pan. It wasn’t long before he was back-flipping his way across the London skyline!”
The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan runs from Friday (7 December) until Sunday 6 January.