The Mercury Theatre in Colchester Reveals Cast and Creatives For THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN

The Mercury Theatre in Colchester has announced the full cast and creative team for their 2024/5 pantomime, The New Adventures of Peter Pan, which will run from 23 November 2024 – 19 January 2025.

The pantomime will be written by David Phipps-Davis and directed by and starring “the best Dame in the country” (British Theatre) Antony Stuart-Hicks as Sherry Smee. Mercury pantomime legend, Dale Superville (currently performing in the West End cast of Fawlty Towers) also returns as Smee.

Joining previously announced Superville and Stuart-Hicks will be West End star David Breeds (Rock of Ages, Dear Evan Hansen) in the titular role and Jazz Evans (Spamalot, Madagascar – The Musical) as Captain Hook, both making their Mercury pantomime debuts this year. Returning to the Mercury for pantomime season will be Alexandra Barredo (Witness for the Prosecution, Sex Education) as Wendy, Nick Brittain-Keates (Sleeping Beauty) as Ensemble/Understudy, Sasha Latoya (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Little Shop of Horrors) as Tinkerbell and Shelby Speed (Blippi – The Wonderful World Tour) as Ensemble/Understudy.

The production will once again also feature a junior chorus of local young performers. Out of 126 hopefuls, 16 young people were chosen aged between 9 and 16 from all over Colchester: Isla Christie, Daisie McIntyre, Niamh Butcher, Tristan Mathieson-Scott, Harrison Agoro, Benjamin Spalding, Chloe Cheung, Roseanna Davis, Dolly Chew, Bella Guest, Lilia Gillooly, Misan Idowu, Archie Kropidlowski, Joe Clark, Miguel Benerayan and Chloe Long.

Joining Phipps-Davis and Stuart-Hicks on the creative team will be The Pantomime Award-winner Jasmine Swan as Designer, Matt Ladkin as Lighting Designer, Nico Menghini as Sound Designer, Rosie Mather as Choreographer and Joshua Tarrier as Musical Director.

Neverland is in chaos! The dastardly and devilish Captain Hook is back and seeking vengeance… With Peter Pan and the lost children in mortal danger Tinkerbell heads back to Colchester to get help. On arrival she realises many years have passed, and she must now convince Wendy’s granddaughter, to travel to Neverland and help save the infamous Peter Pan from certain death.

Will they make it back in time? Will Peter Pan conquer Hook once and for all? And…what’s that ticking sound? Join us this festive season to find out!

Dale Superville will return to the Mercury Theatre direct from the West End as part of the original cast of the new play adaptation of Fawlty Towers. Superville’s long relationship performing at the Mercury includes playing Patsy in Spamalot, Centipede in James and the Giant Peach, Toad in Wind in the Willows and Sir Percy Porter in Habeas Corpus. Superville’s performance credits also includes Tom’s Midnight Garden (London and New York), Simply Heavenly (Ambassador Theatre Group and Young Vic) and Grandpa In My Pocket (Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour).

This year’s pantomime will mark Antony Stuart-Hicks’ ninth Mercury pantomime season. He is the Senior Producer for the Mercury and directing credits include the UK tour of The Hound of the Baskervilles, the international tour of Robin Hood and multiple pantomimes across the UK. Performance credits include Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (Dubai), Professor Callaghan in Legally Blonde (Jersey Opera House) and Roscoe in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Criterion Theatre, West End).

Stuart-Hicks said, “Join us for Colchester’s favourite pantomime this Christmas as Neverland bursts to life in a spectacular production that’s fun for the whole family. The New Adventures of Peter Pan promises to be an awe-inspiring spectacle with the perfect blend of breath-taking sets & costumes, mind-blowing flying and effects, side-splitting comedy and of course the usual warning applies… I will very much be in it!”

There will be a range of accessible shows throughout the run including relaxed, audio described, captioned and BSL interpreted performances. The theatre will also bring back their popular 18+ adults only performances with seven shows held in January.

The theatre has also added an additional week to this year’s run due to last year’s record-breaking sales which sold 98.4% of available tickets.

Tickets start at £10 and there are fifty £10 tickets available at every off-peak performance, as well as discounts for School and Youth groups. Ensuring families of all backgrounds across the Essex County can attend. Tickets for other performances start at £15. Audiences are encouraged to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. More information can be found at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

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