Peter Pan The Arena Spectacular at Blackpool Opera House Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Cath Joyce
Last night we went to the opening night of Peter Pan The Arena Spectacular at Blackpool Opera House. With spectacular in the name this was never going to be an ordinary show, but we were still amazed at how impressive the show actually was. The big budget extravaganza adaptation of JM Barrie’s popular story, about the boy who never grew up, has been designed for arenas by a company called World’s Biggest Productions. I can hear you saying “Blackpool Opera House isn’t an arena” and you are right but it is a very large theatre with a huge stage and the set fitted nicely on the stage with plenty of room for the 50 cast members involved in the production. We also thought that having the show in a theatre setting, rather than a large arena meant the whole audience had a great view of the stage.
Starring Boy George as Captain Hook the production features an array of special effects in one of the most amazing sets I have even seen in a theatre. With a huge life size pirate galleon and a massive LED screen at the back of the stage as well as a giant illuminated crocodile the set really helped transport the audience to the land of Neverland. The computer-generated backdrop is so realistic you almost felt you were flying through the air with Peter Pan and the children when they were flying over London on their way to Neverland.
Boy George is fantastic as the evil Captain hook, arriving on stage in the galleon he really looked the part. In true pantomime style there were plenty of references to his time in the jungle and those old enough to remember his hit 80’s songs were able to sing along to a couple songs including War is Stupid and Karma Chameleon.
Jordan Conway is brilliant as Peter Pan adding plenty of comedy and involving the audience from the very moment he arrives on the stage. We especially enjoyed the water scene with the mermaid which saw him bobbing along in a boat and the clever lighting and stage effects made it look incredibly realistic.
The show is a mix of pantomime and cirque with many of the cast talented artists. The pirate crew members put on a great acrobatic display, leaping and somersaulting around the stage in a great show of tumbling and clowning around and the aerial performers were simply amazing to watch.
With plenty of laughter and lots of clean jokes this is a great family show and the audience are encouraged to participate with singing, clapping and tapping feet. In one scene we were asked to turn the torches on our phones on and wave them round and this looked really impressive when looking round the theatre. The highlight of the show for many children was when the audience were asked to throw inflatable cannon balls onto Hook’s ship – the children next to us loved it and were still talking about it as we left the theatre at the end of the night!
With all the characters we know and love, plenty of comedy and a few twists and turns along the way this is a fantastic show that will be loved by both young and old alike. Featuring acrobatics, aerial stunts, swash buckling sword fights, fire breathing and pyrotechnics this is a show not to be missed and is at Blackpool Opera House until Sunday 29th October
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £23.50
For more information or to book tickets visit https://store.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/webshop/webticket/eventlist?production=231 or call the box office on 0844 770 0593