The All New Adventures Of Peter Pan At Royal & Derngate Northampton Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

You know Christmas is fast approaching when Panto arrives into town. The Royal & Derngate Theatre is very accessible and is surrounded by plenty of parking. The theatre itself self has plenty of bars so we always use those for a pre show drink. We visit regularly and the staff are always super helpful, but today everyone had obviously been sprinkled with festive cheer, everyone was super smiley, and I loved the staff interaction singing and dancing just before the panto started.

We took two children under four with us today, right from the start they loved it. This was Peter Pan with a Christmas Panto twist, and it wasn’t just the children who were excited to take a trip to far away land. I just love Panto, it’s everything the theatre should be and more. It’s a complete joy in itself when the children enjoy a show to.

The New Adventures of Peter Pan had everything and more that you would expect from Panto. John Thomson of Cold Feet fame is at the helm of the show as Captain Hook, he plays the baddie with ease, all the kids were happy to boo and hiss when he was on stage. The star of the show has to be Mrs Sweet played by Gordon Cooper, we just couldn’t stop laughing and he had some of the best Panto dame outfits I have seen for a long time, the light house dress was illuminatingly lovely.

Everyone was wonderful to be honest, Poppy Sunshine played by Millie Davies along with Miss Doodle/Myrtle have really great voices, Peter Pan himself is pretty dashing, played by David Breeds, Tink, Charlie and George complete the outstanding cast.

This year’s Panto has done itself proud, I thought the first flying scene with Tink and Poppy was just so brilliantly done, you really did think they were flying through the sky, twinkly stars and all, it was a really well done visual, well done for the staging. The kids were rolled up laughing at times, I don’t want to give too many spoilers but the water guns were epic. One child cried his eyes out at that the other thought it was hilarious. The jokes kept coming the whole show, that’s the great thing about Panto, it’s not just for the kids, it’s as much about the adults as well.

Just before the interval the theatre was filled with bubbles, they kind of exploded when they touched your hands, they were just magical, it was very special. Of course there was a crocodile, it wouldn’t be Peter Pan without one. There was something for everyone, flying, lots of it, bubbles, fireworks, slime, ticker tape and lots and lots of bad jokes. I couldn’t have wished for a better afternoon, it was good wholesome entertainment. Peter Pan has flown into Northampton with more than a sprinkle of fun and Christmas Panto magic. My grandson is four and this was by far the best fun he has had all year, he was giggling, singing and clapping the whole time. Get your tickets and go and lose yourself in the magical far away land with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys and Girls and the Mermen and Mermaids, you will have the most wonderful of times.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £13.00 plus £4 transaction fee

The All New Adventures of Peter Pan is at the Royal & Derngate Theatre from 5 December to 31 December 2025 for more information or to book tickets visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call the box office on 01604 624811.

Royal & Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP