Based on the much darker novel of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, this Christmas treat from The Egg ticks every box for the current climate.

Alice Lamb as Tink and Liana Cottrill as Wendy | Photo © Camilla Adams
James Baldwin has created the Darling family in a modern crisis, with Wendy striving to care for the remaining family members alongside keeping up with her homework and fighting a stream of online bullying.
Peter is still searching for a mother and picks Wendy to bring her to Neverland, a projected and created world set in a computer game. The final level is the quest for Peter to select and keep a Mother to look after him.
This clearly comes with huge consequences for Wendy who wishes to return to her life in the real world.
It is a clever device which no doubt will appeal to the audience; the old faithful Tink and Captain Hook are in Neverland as a Glitch and a Nemesis who relishes the prospect of winning the game by killing Peter.
Anisha Field’s design is seamlessly multipurpose and the projection created by Chris Harrisson is both clever and inventive.
Liana Cottrill is a glorious Wendy. Feisty, vulnerable, caring and above all, completely believable in a crazy world. Rozelle Gemma clearly enjoys Hook to their full extent with dubious songs and wishes of freedom.
JoAnne Haines is a loveable despite inherently irritating Jon Michael and a great sidekick to Peter as Tootles. Alice Lamb brings Tink to glitching life with ease. The slinking design allows some lovely illusions for the younger audience as the shape shifting appears magical.
Joseph Tweedale is captivating as Peter, he appears almost elasticated at times. His performance combines all the elements of vulnerability, control and absolute need for love.
The computer game setting provides huge opportunity for crazy moments and the dancing mermaids are definitely a highlight.
This will no doubt be popular for the over 6 age range it is targeted for, a classic story revisited for the festive season.
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Reviewer: Petra Schofield