This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Peter Pan The Musical at the invite of The Old Rep.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Alec Fellows-Bennett talked about directing this production of Peter Pan The Musical at The Old Rep. Listen below:
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
This production contains some audience participation.
Review: Peter Pan The Musical at The Old Rep
⭐⭐⭐⭐A magical production!
Directed by Alec Fellows-Bennett, book, music and lyrics by Piers Chater Robinson
Wendy (Rhian Lynch) discovers her dreams of a boy named Peter Pan (Thea Jo-Wolfe) are very real when he whisks her, along with her siblings John (Morag Mayland) and Michael (Daniel Gaulder) to Neverland where they must face Captain Hook (Matthew Christmas) and his pirate sidekicks.
The classic story of Peter Pan received this musical treatment in the 1990s from Piers Chater Robinson with plenty of character-driven songs to move the action along.
From the London house to the home of The Lost and an Island at the edge of Neverland, the lighting and set switch quickly. There are some great models to see including the huge crocodile and Nana the dog.
Rhian Lynch is excellent as Wendy leading the story with naughty Peter Pan to keep under control and her voice blends really well with Thea Jo-Wolfe‘s cheeky Peter. The music and vocals make for a pretty charming production with lots of the Peter Pan magic still present in the dialogue and lyrics.
The audience joined in at the right moments though some didn’t seem to realise the 2.30pm start time was exactly that and rolled up at 2.50pm. This is a fairly long show if you are with young people, the first half was about an hour with the second half about forty-five minutes plus a twenty-minute break. By today’s standards, the theatre seating at The Old Rep feels pretty steep but this means you have great views in the stalls wherever you are sat.
I really enjoyed this version of the story and for many young people, this is a great first experience of theatre without too much threat or peril to worry about.
A magical production, Peter Pan The Musical is at The Old Rep until 31st December 2023. Book tickets here: oldreptheatre.co.uk/calendar/?calid=5,4,2,3,8,17,9,11,10,1,15,7&pid=3&viewid=1&event=537
