Surrey

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="912" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2.jpg" alt="The cast of 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51114" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2-800x486.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2-1000x608.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2-400x243.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2-768x467.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-454-2-863x525.jpg 863w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">All images by Ian Olsson.</figcaption></figure>



You’d perhaps expect me to be slightly jaded after my third panto outing of the season (oh no you wouldn’t! – OK, I’ll get my coat). But I’m back from <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peter-pan/new-victoria-theatre/">Peter Pan</a> at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking highly tickled by a slick, funny show that is up there with the best I&#8217;ve seen since I started reviewing about a hundred years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-magical-opening-with-high-powered-singing-and-dancing">&#8220;A magical opening with high-powered singing and dancing&#8221;</h2>



It&#8217;s a highly-professional show, billed as &#8216;the high-flying panto adventure&#8217; &#8211; a promise delivered when Peter comes flying down from the rafters in the opening scene. There&#8217;s plenty more to come, but this is a magical opening with high-powered singing and dancing&#8230; plus Tinkerbell twirling around on rollerskates. Strap yourselves in people &#8211; we&#8217;re off to Neverland.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2.jpg" alt="Anton Du Beke as Smee and Tinkerbell in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51116" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-058-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The odds of this being a brilliant panto were always strong with the triple-whammy comedy teaming of Anton Du Beke as Smee, Nigel Ellacott as Mrs Smee (his mum) and Paul Chuckle as Starkey. They bounce off each other like old friends delivering glib one-liners, giggling at the jokes, ad-libbing to perfection and engaging with the audience including a poor chap called Mike who became Mrs Smee&#8217;s comical love interest.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2.jpg" alt="Nigel Ellacott as Mrs Smee in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51115" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-038-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



This show is a real pro operation with a relatively large cast (including a couple of local children as the Darling kids), incredible dance scenes, a live orchestra, high-wiring and no expense spared on costumes. Plus, an incredible enormous animatronic crocodile.



But it&#8217;s also a classic pantomime in all its silly tradition &#8211; there&#8217;s spectacle, sparkles and song, and plenty of jest and jokes &#8211; most of the humour operating on two levels. Of course panto wouldn&#8217;t be panto without toilet humour, and then some more toilet humour. Yes, kids do love a fart joke or 10 &#8211; and Anton pulled it off with aplomb (if such a thing exists!).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2.jpg" alt="Anton Du Beke as Smee in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51120" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-317-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



But Anton wasn&#8217;t there just the jokes. It turns out the former Strictly pro-dancer turned judge is also pretty adept at cavorting around on stage in time to the music. The whole show was brilliantly choreographed and at this point I should also give a huge shout out to the incredible dancing (and singing) by the ensemble. Not one of them would look out of place on Strictly. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-all-the-magic-of-jm-barrie-s-original-peter-pan-is-there">&#8220;All the magic of JM Barrie&#8217;s original Peter Pan is there&#8221;</h2>



The show is strong on the storytelling, and in this version all the magic of JM Barrie&#8217;s original Peter Pan is there. The story starts in the Darlings&#8217; nursery but quickly and cleverly moves to Neverland where it&#8217;s up to Peter Pan to save the day, and his friends, from the clutches of the evil Hook.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2.jpg" alt="Peter Pan and Tinker Bell in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51119" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-249-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Peter is played brilliantly by up-and-coming Archie Durrant who wows with his acting, dancing, singing and, er, his sword-fighting ability. West End pro Bob Harms is Hook, and plays the villain to perfection. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2.jpg" alt="Hook in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51118" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-092-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Like all good tales, there&#8217;s a side story &#8211; and this one pits Tinkerbell and Wendy as love rivals for Peter Pan&#8217;s affections. It&#8217;s a sweet side bar &#8211; and really well done by Georgia Brierley-Smith as Tinker Bell and Chloe Riley as a the wholesome Wendy. Not to give the story away, but &#8211; spoiler alert!! &#8211; they do make friends in the end but not without some sniping, pouting and double-crossing.



Both are strong on vocals &#8211; Georgia in particular has a mighty set of lungs on her. In fact there&#8217;s not really a weak link in the cast when it comes to the sining with everyone belting out the tunes admirably. There&#8217;s plenty to get the audience clapping along including a memorable a rendition of Dua Lipa&#8217;s &#8216;Dance the Night&#8217;, performed by Peter and Wendy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2.jpg" alt="The cast of 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51117" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-403-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The usual panto antics were also in attendance &#8211; a funny &#8220;Twelve Days of Christmas&#8221; routine very well done by Smee, Hook, Peter and Starkey; and a skit involving four audience members and some cream pies. Plus there was a hilarious magic trick by Starkey involving a sword, a cucumber and a wooden box with a hole in it. 



Nothing else to say at this point but go, go, go – it’s a strong contender for this year’s best panto 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2.jpg" alt="Paul Chuckle in 'Peter Pan' at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, 2023." class="wp-image-51121" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/peter-pan-woking-2023-credit-ian-olsson-039-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Good for: Adults will love this panto, especially those who don&#8217;t mind a risqué rib-tickler or two. Fans of Strictly will also love it &#8211; dancing features big.



Not for: Tinies who won’t last the 2+ hour runtime.



Peter Pan is at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking until Sun 7 Jan. Tickets from £13. <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peter-pan/new-victoria-theatre/">Book here.</a>

Review: Peter Pan at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking

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