When the mischievous Peter Pan swoops in with tales of a magical place far beyond London’s starlit sky, what child can resist? Dreaming of fun and tempted by the promise of adventure, Wendy journeys with Peter to the mystical world of Neverland where children never have to grow up.
Together they explore a land with sparkling mermaids, swashbuckling pirates and a ticking crocodile. With the help of Peter’s band of Lost Boys and a sprinkling of fairy dust, they must brave the perils of Neverland and defeat the villainous Captain Hook.
A classic story of magic, courage and friendship with original music to warm your heart, fly away for an unforgettable adventure in Neverland.
Suitable for age 4 upwards
Please note, no babies or children under 3 will be admitted into the auditorium.
See production photos here
See rehearsal pictures here
Watch interviews and extracts from rehearsals here
Christmas tea for magical adventurers
Lost boys, pirates, mermaids and lots of flying - you must be starving after your adventures in Neverland! Enjoy a delicious tea with no ticking crocodile to steal it away.
Available after all matinée performances £6.25. Please book your tea when buying your tickets, or if you've already booked tickets click here to book tea or call the box office on 01635 46044.
Performance running times
First Act: 55 minutes
Interval: 20 minutes
Second Act: 40 minutes
Directed by Robin Belfield
Original music by Simon Slater
Designed by Neil Irish
Lighting designed by Mark Dymock
Sound designed by Rob Jones
Movement Director Frances Newman
Fight Director Robin Colyer
Oliver Izod
Smee/Slightly/Great Big Little Panther
Oliver trained at East 15.
Theatre includes: Betty Blue Eyes (UK Tour); Pinocchio (Pants on Fire); The Hired Man (Curve, Leicester/Mercury); The Winter's Tale (Old Vic Tunnels); Darker Shores (Hampstead Theatre).
In comedy, Oliver has written and performed for NewsRevue in London and Edinburgh, improvised with BattleActs!, written for Jenny Bede AAA (BBC) and danced for Arthur Smith (BBC Radio).
Oliver also improvises music for The One Hour Plays, Austentatious and Cariad and Paul.
In circus, Ollie hosts shows as his unsavoury alter-ego Baron Fingolfin for Collectif and Then and The Ugly Duckling Collective.
As a musician, Oliver has recorded with Rachael and the Red Socks and Matthew Halsall. He has recently written his first film score for What Remains by Graham Dickson.
Abiola Ogunbiyi
Tiger Lily
Abiola trained at the Emerald Music School, National Youth Theatre, and ArtsEd, London.
Theatre includes: Mamma Mia! (West End - Prince of Wales, Novello Theatre); Hairspray (Cork Opera House, Londonderry Millennium Forum); Sweeney Todd (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Royal Exchange Theatre); Hair (European Tour); Little Shop of Horrors (Kilworth House Theatre); Merchant of Venice (NCPA, Beijing).
Television includes: 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony (BBC).
Abiola is delighted to be making her first appearance at The Watermill Theatre in this production of Peter Pan.
Morgan Philpott
Mr Darling/Captain Hook
Morgan trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
For Watermill Theatre: Pinocchio, Arabian Nights, Treasure Island, Gulliver's Travels, The Snow Queen.
Other Theatre: Henry V (Creation Theatre); Larisa and The Merchants (Arcola); Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Merry Wives Of Windsor (Guildford Shakespeare Company); The Sound Of Music (Kilworth House); Dick Turpin's Last Ride (Bury St. Edmunds Theatre Royal); Larkrise To Candleford (New Perspectives); Twelfth Night and George's Marvellous Medicine (Birmingham Stage Company); James and The Giant Peach (Northampton Theatre Royal); Pinocchio (Polka Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, Othello and Sir Jonathan Miller's production of Hamlet (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory).
Bronte Tadman
Wendy
Bronte graduated from the Oxford School of Drama this July.
Television credits since graduating include: Call The Midwife.
Theatre credits while training include: Black Sheep at The Soho Theatre, London; Dolly in Anna Karenina at the Royal Court, London; playing Cleopatra at the Globe Theatre, London, as part of the Sam Wanamaker Festival.
Bronte is extremely excited to perform as part of a great cast in such a unique theatre.
Ed Thorpe
Starkey/Tootles/Alf
Ed graduated from the Actor Musician course at Rose Bruford College in 2013.
Since graduating his theatrical credits include: Peter and Edgar in Tom's Midnight Garden with Birmingham Stage Company; Mole in Wind in the Willows with The Lord Chamberlain's Men and Neil in Novemberunderground with Burning Oak Theatre Company. He also appeared in the BBC Radio 4 Drama He Died With His Eyes Open directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.
Jay Worley
Peter Pan
Jay Worley trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
His stage credits include; No Other Day Like Today (NYTW); Patagonia: The Long Journey,
A Month In The Country, Twelfth Night Or What You Will, Thebans, A Winter’s Tale, You Can’t Take It With You, Fe Ddaw’r Byd I Ben (The World Will End), Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, Comets and Blister.
Jay starred as Iolo in the CBBC Television series Sadie J. Being a Welsh speaker, Jay also played the role Hari in Teulu Ty Crwn.
Jay has a wonderful Baritone-High singing voice and can also play the guitar, piano and ukulele.
He is looking forward to performing at the Watermill Theatre as Peter in Peter Pan.
'The Watermill’s fun-filled, family-friendly Peter Pan is the perfect start to the festive season.'
'There is great audience participation... which was tremendous fun.'
'Highly recommended.' British Theatre Guide
Read the British Theatre Guide review here
'An engaging interpretation which showcases the cast members’ talents for multitasking.'
'...it could not be more of a salute to JM Barrie’s endearing story.'
**** The Stage
Read the Stage review here
'...can just six actors recreate Neverland in the heart of the Berkshire countryside? Can they ever!'
'Special mention must be made of Tinkerbell, who flits and flashes her anger and charms all over the auditorium, thanks to Mark Dymock's wonderfully imaginative lighting.' ****Whatsonstage
Read the Whatsonstage review here
'...straight forward, exciting storytelling with a few jokes thrown in for the grown-ups.'
'You can throw what you like at a Christmas show but unless it engages the kids then it’s all for nothing. Peter Pan at the Watermill gets them from the beginning and keeps them for the whole two hours.'
'The show has a well-balanced mix of pace, physical theatre, music and drama which make it rattle along at a fair old speed but never too quick to lose the audience.' The Henley Standard
'Bronte Tadman is ideal as Wendy: full of fun, but with her head screwed on straight too.'
'How does Wendy manage to fly out of her bedroom window? That’s always an intriguing question with Peter Pan, and the answer often involves a series of wires. No wires at the Watermill, however, the solution is much more magical — and it’s typical of Neil Irish’s colourful and attractive designs and scenic effects.' ***** Oxford Times
Read the Oxford Times review here
'The cast were all talented musicians - whipping out accordions, flutes, drums, ukuleles and great singing voices in almost every scene.'
'... it’s a story that doesn’t grow old.' Daily Info, Oxford
Read the Daily Info, Oxford review here
'I smiled from first sight of the huge blue moon through to the storming finale two hours later.'
'The music’s great, the performances terrific, and all children seemed enthralled (adults too, it has to be said). Huge fun and perfect for Christmas.' Wiltshire Gazette & Herald
Read the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald review here