Eastbourne Theatres have a well-established pedigree of staging excellent pantomimes, and this year’s is no exception!
Written and directed by the long-serving General Manager, Chris Jordan, it has everything a great pantomime needs! Firstly, the script never talks down to its audience, but tells J M Barrie’s tale wittily, with loads of appalling jokes which were really appreciated by the large Press Night audience! Secondly, it is very colourful with many superb sets (Imagine Theatre Ltd) and lavish costumes (Shelley Claridge) with just the right number of well-known songs interpolated in the right places by musical supervisors Robert Cousins and Chris Gardner: never does one feel that anything outstays its welcome! Thirdly, money has clearly been well spent on often spectacular lighting (Ryan Tate) and special effects such as the frequent flying sequences by Revolution Rigging.
Lastly, Jordan has gathered around him a team, both young and old, who truly understand how pantomime needs to be performed to appeal to all ages. Dashing Lewes Roberts excelled as a suitably evil Captain Hook: he quickly played up to the loud “boos” he was met with every time he appeared, as well as possessing a very pleasant singing voice. Although a young (ish!) actor, he has already appeared in five consecutive pantomimes at Eastbourne and was deservedly popular with the audience.
Martin Knight shone brightly and with great energy in the “dame” role of Mrs Smee, instinctively knowing how to tell even the worst joke imaginable, yet getting a laugh – or an enormous groan! – and Tucker impressed as her son (or husband?!), Smee. Both worked well together as a double-act, getting everything possible out of the material and immediately achieving a great rapport with the audience. They had an understanding of the pantomime genre and were able to relax completely on stage, complete variety entertainers of the “old school”!
Angus Benstead distinguished himself as Peter Pan, not only being suitably athletic, but also possessing excellent singing and dancing skills. Ella Bracci as Wendy, Gabriella Gilliat, Tink, and Jessica Aubrey, Mrs Darling and Mermaid, all three young performers demonstrating an instinctive ability to embrace the style needed, and obviously enjoying themselves!
The cast was completed by a hard-working ensemble: Lyndan Barclay, Bebe Fox, Rhiannon Mackay and Sam Scott, plus the twelve-strong “Young Company Dancers” who added much colour to the proceedings.
Finally, the band of four, under the direction of Bob Broad, was unusually placed in the four boxes, leaving the orchestra pit to be used inventively as the ocean from where Mermaid appears – but to say any more would create a “spoiler alert”, and I would run the risk of getting eaten by the crocodile!
Suffice to say that this year’s Peter Pan at Eastbourne is a great show, one of the best pantomimes I have seen, and is very highly recommended! It is well worth catching during its five-week run – great fun for children of all ages!
Review by John Groves
Test your sea-legs as we set sail in Captain Hook’s pirate ship and join his crazy crew in this swashbuckling adventure that is fun for the whole family.
Brought to you again by the team behind Snow White, this magical production is set to live music, has vibrant sets, dazzling costumes, spectacular special effects, sensational cast and plenty of comedy that will have you laughing all the way home.
The Adventures of Peter Pan includes Eastbourne favourites Tucker as Smee, Martyn Knight as Mrs Smee and Lewes Roberts as the dastardly Captain Hook, along with new names for Eastbourne Angus Benstead as Peter Pan, Ella Bracci in the role of Wendy, Jessica Aubrey is Mermaid, Lola and Mrs Darling and Gabriella Gilliat is Tink, plus the ensemble team of performers which includes; Lyndan Barclay, Bebe Fox, Rhiannon Mackay and Sam Scott.
The award-winning creative team are back at the helm, including Writer and Director Chris Jordan plus Musical Director Bob Broad, Musical Supervisor Robert Cousins and Chris Gardiner along with Choreographer Matt Nicholson, the Wardrobe team led by Grace Velvick and Rachel Meech, with lighting design once again by Ryan Tate and sound design by Charlie Tipler.
The cast are ably supported by the hard-working Young Company of dancers and performers who all come from the local area and were handpicked after an intensive auditioning process.
THE ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026
