Peter Pan

Sheringham Little Theatre

With polished performances from a professional cast and piratical puns a-plenty, the faultless first night of the Sheringham Little Theatre pantomime, Peter Pan, had an audience of adults and children hooked from the opening number.

Featuring puppets, special effects, stunning costumes and some clever choreography, the production, which rocketed along like a runaway train on the North Norfolk Railway, included songs ranging from Barry Manilow and Madness, to Little Mix and Katy Perry.

James Lavender and Rik Warren as Panto Dame Smee and first mate Starkey made for a side-splittingly funny double act, with Cromer-based actor Neil Paris drawing boos and laughs in equal measure for his vain and villainous Captain Hook.

George Caporn shone in the title role, while both Gemma Wilson, as Wendy, and Nicola Barney, as roller-skating fairy Tinkerbell, treated an appreciative audience to some stand-out solo songs.

A team of talented local youngsters danced their way through a string of back-to-back hits with infectious enthusiasm, with 12-year-old Rachel Feetham putting in a fine performance as Tiger Lily and Ben Mantell, 12, and 10-year-old Noah Vigor playing John and Michael with aplomb.

Peter Pan writer and director Nick Earnshaw, who has appeared at the Little Theatre as a panto dame, and as an actor and director of the venue's annual rep season, has penned a fabulously funny, truly contemporary take on a classic tale, creating a fun-filled feast of a show that promises to provide a barrel of laughs for all the family.

? Peter Pan is at Sheringham Little Theatre until January 1 2017. Tickets, priced £18 (£13 under 16s, £60.00 family ticket) are available from the box office on 01263 822347 or book online at www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com

Karen Bethell