Wendy and Peter Pan

Royal Shakespeare Company - Barbican Theatre

Spellbinding. It'll be surprising if you don't shed at least one tear; this adaptation of the James Matthew Barrie novel 'Peter Pan' beautifully shows the symbolism embedded in the story.

'Neverland' is a place where children never grow up. What did James Matthew Barrie intend to display with this idea? Well, it'll all come to light in this adaptation of the story of 'Peter Pan' by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Seriously, this show had me in floods of tears. Such a sentimental piece of theatre that should be experienced by the whole family and treasured. The Barbican Theatre is the perfect space for this show, with its huge stage and how comfortable it is, you can fully immerse yourself in the show... I kind of wanted to be in my pyjamas to watch this show, just so I could feel closer to the magic. Although the message and content have such a serious tone, the actors put so much flavour into their characters, with a sprinkle of comedy; it makes it more light-hearted and easier to digest. Each character is wholesome, and the set and staging bring the dream-like world to life. Almost like a real-life pop-up picture book.

Wendy is the focus of the piece, and the story focuses on her dealing with the pressures of growing up and fitting into the ideals of what is expected of being a woman. Hannah Saxby clearly portrays the character's inner battle, with wanting to enjoy her youth for as long as she can and being thrust into an unexpectedly difficult time that forces her to become more aware of what is expected of her as a woman and older sister. Saxby shows how Wendy will try and throw herself into these beautiful, fun moments of madness, but then steps back with her guard up. Her brothers, John, played by Fred Woodley Evans, and Michael, played by Kwaku Mills, contrast with her character by ignoring her pleas to restrain themselves from the fun of Neverland. Their ignorance of her inner battle portrays the pressure differences put on girls; they are on their own journey to fit into the pressures of being 'brave' and 'strong' at whatever cost. The moments each character shows their vulnerability are moving and relatable; each actor displays a big character arc. Tom Xander plays one of the lost boys, Curly, and he is such a refreshing actor to watch. His ability to play with the comedy of the writing and show the naivety of the lost boys is a joy to watch. You instantly connect with his wholesome and hilarious character. A brilliant comic actor. Daniel Krikler has taken on the huge role of Peter Pan, and what a layered and unique character he presents. His portrayal of Pan is emotive, as he clearly inwardly longs for the future, but hides his feelings by messing around and being young. The moment his playful walls come crashing down, you'd better have a tissue to hand. Each actor adds more sparkle to this spellbinding piece.

A huge pirate ship is THRUST on stage, and be prepared to be blown away. The show starts, of course, in the Darling children's bedroom, and this set then turns into Neverland within the bedroom. The characters, at times, will come out of the wardrobe and interact with things in the bedroom to create the Neverland setting. This choice makes you wonder whether Wendy is dreaming or is this their imagination just coming to life? The set is fantastical! There are some gorgeous, picturesque moments, especially when they have the scenes aboard the pirate ship. Whilst this feels like a family show, at the beginning, when Peter Pan flies into the room and the lights turn on and off, this is actually rather unsettling. Children may find this rather scary... However, the original story has a rather sinister element to it, so it could just be reflecting this idea! That being said, it does keep the magic real, if only that were the same for the scene just before the interval, where Peter Pan is stabbed. However, when the lights turn off, you see him sprint off stage. If so much care is put into it when he flies into the room, then it should be for this iconic moment. It makes you stop questioning the moment, feeling the tension and reminds you it's a show. The set is designed by Colin Richmond and the lighting by Oliver Fenwick.

This is such an important piece of theatre that makes you think about the process of grief; this show is also such a great idea for the family, because it teaches young children about the idea of death in a light and fluffy way. The strength of the piece is in how much the creative team have stuck to the original story and made the audience question whether Neverland is the children's imagination. It also has a strong element of female empowerment, as the female characters drive the story and the male characters revolve around them. This is a great piece that has so many choices in each creative area that you can analyse and come up with your own interpretations. It is a beautiful piece and so wholesome; the fantasy world comes to life. It truly is like a Peter Pan pop-up book on stage. Get yourselves to the Barbican Theatre!