Pan! Peter’s Come Out To Play
Christmas over at Theatre Peckham has really painted the picture for something magical. As we have seen in the last couple of years of our industry’s development, there is a great curiosity for bringing back classic stories in an attempt of a retelling, an edge, a modernized boldness.
But who would have thought one would have the brilliance to tell the story of a Peckham locale, Peter Pan. Announced as the star of the festive season (oh yes that was a Bridgerton reference), Theatre Peckham presents; Pan! Peter’s Come Out To Play on the 6-23 of December. This is a brand new show, conceived by actor and writer Geoff Aymer and Suzann McLean MBE, CEO/Artistic Director of Theatre Peckham. Based on J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan, this new contemporary retelling sets the much loved children’s novel to original music by British Composer Jordan Xavier, with a new book and lyrics by Geoff Aymer.
PAN! is a fresh, innovative tale of a boy who simply refuses to grow up, driven by his memories of his life in Peckham. The location of which the show is set is probably the most important key factor. Peckham has had a reputation over the last few decades, it has been described as both rough and dangerous as well as exciting, cultural, alive. It is exactly the kind of place where a boy would explore and feel like he is taking over the world, or at least south east London… The original story follows a special innocence and curiosity for what is out there, whilst being stubborn enough to not want to witness the unknown, only driven by imagination, a child’s truest weapon.
As described by press, Peckham seems to be a Tropical Neverland; becoming a symbol of freedom and form of escapism for Peter and his lost boys. A place without pressure to grow up, a place music and dancing are your only obligations, a place where every decision is with the purpose of joy and not status or money.
To bring such a unique lens on the beloved story throughout the festive season, will be a wonderful gift to younger audiences celebrating Christmas and waiting for Santa to come to their home, one of the biggest childhood beliefs. Diversity and inclusion play a great deal at Theatre Peckham, making the story even more of a revolutionary extension of the Disney classic.
Biographies
About Geoff Aymer (WRITER & LYRICIST)
Geoff is an actor, writer and former comedian. Playwriting credits: Rapunzel (Theatre Peckham) Men-TALL (co-writer/dramaturg, Theatre Peckham); Scroogelicious (Theatre Peckham); The Wonderful (Theatre Peckham), Anansi and the Magic Mirror (Talawa Theatre), The Oddest Couple (Theatre Royal Stratford East), What A Wonderful World (Blue Elephant Theatre), Wha Tif (Hackney Empire). Acting theatre credits: Highlights include: The Crucible (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield); Romeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange, Manchester); The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium and Leicester Curve Theatre), Clutch (Bush Theatre), Jitney (The Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse and Headlong Productions), Sunset Boulevard (Royal Albert Hall), GHBoy (Charing Cross Theatre), Apollo 13:The Dark Side Of The Moon (Online Production) Original Theatre; Two Trains Running (ETT National Tour with Royal & Derngate, Northampton), The Color Purple Musical (Leicester Curve Theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome), Driving Miss Daisy (Frinton Summer Theatre and Canal Cafe Theatre), The Importance Of Being Earnest (Original Theatre National Tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Young Vic), To Kill A Mockingbird (Regents Park Open Air, National Tour, Barbican) MacBeth (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), The Big Life (Theatre Royal Stratford East and The Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue).
About Jordan Xavier (Composer)
Jordan is a British composer and member of The Ivors Academy for music creators. He is the Director and Lead Composer at CreativeMusicX Ltd where he scores music for television, theatre, media productions and records with a wide range of recording artists.
About Suzann McLean, MBE (DIRECTOR)
An award-winning actress and director, winner of the Black British Business Award Arts and Media Senior Leader Award and Winner of British Arrows Gold Award for commercial performance. Directing credits include Sunny Side Up (Soho Theatre, Theatre Peckham), Unseen Unheard, Rapunzel, Scroogelicious, MEN-TALL, The Wonderful, Extremism (OFFIE Nominated Best Director), South Crong, Jack and the Beanstalk, Soul Lyrical, Robin Hood (Theatre Peckham), Driving Miss Daisy (York Theatre Royal), Catcher, This Child (Pilot Theatre), Rebellion (Hackney Empire). Acting Credits include Pennyworth, There She Goes, The Honourable Woman, Dr. Who, Eastenders, Little Miss Jocelyn and Measure for Measure (National Theatre) Suzann trained in Acting at Italia Conti Academy, has an MA from Middlesex University in Directing and Producing theatre for social change and is the founder of Young and Talented School of Stage and Screen now in its 20th year.
About Theatre Peckham
Theatre Peckham is a multi-award-winning cultural venue for artistic excellence and social change founded in 1986. Through the power of theatre, the charity provides training and opportunities for young people and marginalised communities to platform their stories. Theatre Peckham’s cutting-edge productions push boundaries and engage with hyper-local audiences, earning the 2022 OFFIE Special Recognition Award. Patrons include Jenny Agutter OBE, John Boyega, and Paulette Randall MBE.
The full cast for PAN! will be announced in the coming months. For further information please visit: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk
Growing up is such a bittersweet concept, but what if staying a kid forever might not have the same value? We will find out this December at one of the most accessible and inclusive venues in London, Theatre Peckham.
See you at Neverland…
