Pan, 27th November 2024. Rayne Theatre at Chickenshed, 290 Chase Side, London, N14 4PE until 11th January 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Mary-Ellen Dyson.

Pan, 27th November 2024. Rayne Theatre at Chickenshed, 290 Chase Side, London, N14 4PE until 11th January 2025,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: Mary-Ellen Dyson.

Written and composed by Dave Carey, Jo Collins, Hector Dogliani, Ashley Driver, Phil Haines, Will Laurence, Cara McInanny, Paul Morrall, Sebastian Ross and Áine Smith.

“Approach it with a child-like heart.”

If you want to enjoy “Pan”, you need to approach it with a child-like heart. Accept it with innocence, simplicity and a child’s wonderment, and you will experience all of the joy and heartache that it has to offer.

Expect no complexities of life from this musical. If you approach it looking for something cerebral, thought-provoking, or exploratory, you will miss out on its charm. This show wishes to provide an uncomplicated tale of heroes and villains, joy and sadness. If you accept it for what it is, you will enjoy this show immensely. Gasp at the drama, cower from the villainy, marvel at the dancing. At one moment, I laughed; in the next, tears streamed down my cheeks. If you go to the theatre for spectacle and an emotional workout, then you will really enjoy “Pan”.

One must appreciate the spectacle of this show. There are over one hundred and fifty cast members on stage during the course of the night. When costs are being cut at every corner, this is refreshing. In line with Chickenshed’s ethos of inclusion, disabled people are fully visible and included as part of the ensemble. This really is theatre for all. Bethany Hamlin’s choreography is stunning, alongside her scene-stealing performance as Mrs. Darling. The production’s vivacity is infectious.

The highlight of this show is the way in which British Sign Language (BSL) is both integrated and integral to the storytelling. I would strongly recommend this show to the Deaf community. “Pan” has been carefully designed so that a Deaf person can have the full experience, and it appears to me that this goal has been achieved. Each significant character is shadowed by a signing performer (called a “storyteller”), meaning that a BSL-speaking Deaf person can fully experience every interaction. The signing is used creatively and thoughtfully throughout. For example, Peter Pan’s shadow is his signer, and Tinker Bell can sign but not speak, adding interesting dimensions to the original story. Even as a hearing person with only a smattering of BSL, my own experience of the show was elevated tremendously by the signers’ performances. The sound balancing means that the instruments sometimes outbalance the vocals, but I was able to understand the songs when I watched the signers! Shiloh Maersk, who signs Captain Hook and Mr. Darling, and Courtney Hayes, who signs Peter Pan, stand out as two of the best performers in the entire show; their engaging and charismatic performances are very enjoyable.

The whole family will enjoy this show. It is charming and magical. When you watch this, recapture your childhood. For just one evening, you never grew up.

Cast

Jimmy Adamou – Smea

Lucy-Mae Beacock – Tinkerbell*

Courtney Dayes – Shadow/Storyteller

Ashley Driver – Smee

Bethany Hamlin – Mrs. Darling/Storyteller

Georgie Jacobs – Storyteller

Demar Lambert – Peter Pan

Will Laurence – Grandpa/Nana/Storyteller

Shiloh Maersk – Storyteller

Tristan Manzi – Peter Pan*

Cara McInanny – Grandma/Storyteller

Jonny Morton – Mr. Darling/Hook

Tilly Morton – Storyteller

Ellie Morton – Tinkerbell

Louise Reen – Wibbles

Sebastian Ross – Storyteller

Gemilla Shamruk – Storyteller

Robin Shillinglaw – Storyteller

Nigel Spurgeon – Nigel

Plus over eight hundred other members!

*Not performing in the reviewed performance.

Creatives

Directors – Michael Bossisse & Louise Perry

Choreographer – Bethany Hamlin

Vocal Director – Cara McInanny

Scene Director – Jonny Morton

Writers & Composers - Dave Carey, Jo Collins, Hector Dogliani, Ashley Driver, Phil Haines, Will Laurence, Cara McInanny, Paul Morrall, Sebastian Ross & Áine Smith.

Sign Language Translator – Jay Thomas-Morton