Peter Pan, Polka Theatre

Avoid the panto this winter and instead enjoy the fairy magic and pirate hijinks of the Polka's Christmas show, Peter Pan . Based on the classic children's novel but J. M. Barrie, the play explores the wonders of childhood.
Peter and Tinkerbell whisk Wendy Darling and her brothers away from their bedroom one night and take them flying through the night sky with the help of happy thoughts and fairy dust. The Darling family and their magical companions travel to the second star to the right and straight on till morning, to the land where children never grow up. But Neverland is plagued by pirates (including Peter's nemesis, Captain James Hook), who torment the band of Lost Boys of whom Peter is the leader. Though the fearless Peter outwits mermaids, a tick-tocking crocodile and dozens of Hook's henchmen, it seems as though to win his final battle he will need the help of all his friends.
In this production, the setting is that of the First World War, marking the end of the great war's centenary year. Bombs fall on London; Lost Boys wear gas masks; and the threat of pirates resonates with a sense of historic conflict. Songs and music are so often the highlight of Polka shows and this production will not disappoint with a lively score by composer Martin Ward. And, of course, expect plenty of interaction with young audience-members. We predict that parents too will be shouting "I believe in fairies".
Directed by newly instated artistic director Peter Glanville (who ran the Little Angel theatre for many years), you can expect beautiful hand-crafted puppets and skilled puppetry. We've learned that one highlight will be a huge marionette Never Bird— the magical talking bird that saves Peter's life— flying down from the roof of the theatre.
The last two Christmas shows at Polka, Alice in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows, were both charming, intelligent productions, with performances provided for deaf and autistic children and even early morning shows added for toddlers. Christmas and New Year is a very special time to be at the Polka theatre, which is decorated with huge displays made by art students to complement the show running. The Polka theatre is a children's wonderland, so what better place to bring the world of Neverland to life?