Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, J.M. Barrie’s classic tale from 1904, has inspired numerous adaptations and retellings. As a result, most people are familiar with Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys. Peter and the Starcatcher explores how the story of Neverland and its inhabitants came to be.

 

In Peter and the Starcatcher,  a nameless orphan and his two friends are sold and shipped off on a vessel called The Neverland. Onboard, they meet Molly, the daughter of Lord Aster and an apprentice starcatcher.

 

The Neverland is one of two ships transporting identical trunks; one trunk contains the Queen's Treasure, while the other serves as a decoy. The Queen’s Treasure is meant to be sent on The Wasp, accompanied by Lord Aster for protection.

 

When the notorious pirate Black Stache ambushes and takes control of The Wasp, he opens the trunk that is supposed to contain Starstuff. To his shock, and that of Lord Aster, it is not gold or diamonds, it is sand. Black Stache then begins to chase The Neverland and the action kicks off from here.  

 

It’s evident that the character of Black Stache was crafted for an actor with exceptional comedic talent. Colin Lane (Lano & Woodley) truly excels in this role. Whenever he broke the fourth wall, addressed the audience directly, or made a contemporary reference, it felt perfectly appropriate. His delivery was smooth and natural, demonstrating his complete command of the stage. In contrast, when other characters attempted similar techniques, it felt somewhat awkward—though this could simply be attributed to the differences in how their characters were written.

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Image by Daniel Boud

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Featuring the talented Australian comedian Peter Helliar (The Project, How To Stay Married) as Smee, Black Stache’s loyal sidekick, the duo consistently brought laughter to the audience, even when they dropped their lines. The show had that special Disney magic, making the jokes enjoyable for adults and children.

 

During the Broadway run of Peter and the Starcatcher, Molly was the only female in the cast. Even her Nanna, Mrs Bumbrake, was portrayed by a man. This choice emphasised the isolation of girls in Victorian England, particularly those like Molly, who think and act with strength and leadership rather than as followers.

 

The directorial and design team, consisting of David Morton and The Dead Puppets Society, made a conscious decision to implement non-traditional casting to feature more women on stage. Notably, they cast Lord Aster as a woman, with Alison Whyte (Death of a Salesman, Groundhog Day: The Musical, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) taking on this role. This choice emphasises how much Molly (Olivia Deeble) reflects her father, as evidenced by her costume, which consists of pants rather than a dress.

 

Peter and The Starcatcher is a beautiful ensemble show that showcases the extraordinary talent of every actor. As they take on multiple roles, narrate different lines, sing, dance, operate puppets, and change costumes quickly throughout the performance.

 

Anna Cordingley’s costume design is simple, yet bright and eye-catching. The straightforward changes make it easy to identify each character and their role, while still allowing for unique distinctions between characters.

 

However, the true star of this production is the set and props. The Dead Puppet Society has created an immersive world featuring over 90 puppets, including Starstuff butterflies, a giant crocodile, and a colossal mermaid tail for Teacher (John Batchelor).

 

Although simple, the set design relied heavily on the movement of the actors, lighting, and props, creating a dynamic experience that feels like it is always moving. The production vividly brought to life the two ships and the island, featuring multiple locations across the two acts. 

By incorporating the band into the set and moving them around the stage to help establish different locations, they became an integral part of the ensemble cast, contributing to the brilliance of this production.

 

Peter and The Starcatcher is a captivating play that showcases impressive stagecraft, including its sets and puppetry. The production wonderfully balances comedy with dramatic moments that unfold throughout the story. This play (with music) is truly special, and if you have the opportunity to see it, you definitely should.

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Grab tickets for Peter and The Starcatcher here! 

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