Peter Pan - An inspired production

Peter Pan the Musical came home this Christmas, when it was performed by the incredibly talented young thespians at St Bede’s Senior School. Peter Pan the Musical ‘came home’ because, 25 years ago, it was staged for the very first time at St Bede’s Prep School. So how did a musical which has seen played all over the world including the West End, come to have its debut at Prep School on the south coast? Very simple really, the man who wrote the words, music and lyrics was, at the time, a young teacher of English, drama and music at St Bede’s – Piers Chater Robinson – who today runs the highly successful International Theatre and Music company and who travelled down to attend the Gala performance of the Peter Pan.

The St Bede’s production was the Christmas directorial debut for teacher Katie Birch and choreographer Nick Purdie: it was billed as inspirational and indeed it was, in fact there was an almost spiritual sense to the performances and it is impossible to say that one character engaged more than another. Becky Wilkinson took the title role of Peter Pan, cutting her beautiful long hair for her art. We have known what a fantastic actor Becky is since the first year, but what really impressed in this role was her poise, her stillness, her magic as she flew or hovered above the stage. She was ‘the boy who wouldn’t grow up’, but when necessary brought real pathos to the character.

Becky’s Pan was hugely complimented by Beckie Hodge’s animated and smiley Wendy. When the two were on stage together they held their audience effortlessly; their stunning freeze frame at the end of the first half and beginning of the second half a tribute to their huge talent. And of course, Tinkerbell; Amelia Read was perfect, not a word uttered but eloquent in her body language, her foot stomping and her bell-shaking. We certainly believed in fairies.

Comedy came in the shape of the Pirates - Pieter Verbeelen’s wonderfully ‘over the top’ Hook and Jack Christie’s exquisite Smee; two hugely clever actors who leave us in the summer, hopefully for drama school and who have given us much pleasure over the years. The Lost Boys too made us laugh out loud, especially Ollie Taplin as Tootles and Rupert Colegrave as Slightly; two young actors that we are sure to be seeing much more of.

Charlotte Gray was a passionate Tiger Lily and Charlie Pullan as the Chief led an excellent rendition of Braves to War.

The cast, as always, were wonderfully supported by the musicians directed by Louise Morris.