REVIEW: PETER PAN @ GREENWICH THEATRE

🎭 Peter Pan

📍 Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London, SE10 8ES

🗓 Friday 5th December 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A "PAN"-TASTIC TRIUMPH!

It's that time of year again (oh, yes it is!) and the Greenwich Theatre has delivered a festive spell that will have you cackling all the way home! This magical pantomime has everything you could wish for and more. From the very beginning it was a dazzling spectacle and utterly brilliant.

The script is nimble, packed with witty gags, lots of innuendo, and lashings of heart. The writing here is a work of genius, striking a perfect balance between the absurd and reality, with enough satire and references to current events to keep the adults entertained while the kids are captivated by the magic of Neverland. The brilliant writing ensures every moment lands successfully.

The entire company are incredible but a special mention must go to the phenomenally talented Anthony Spargo (who is also the writer) as Captain Hook. He absolutely owned the stage, balancing charm and swagger with a commanding presence that made every interaction a highlight of the night. He's not merely delivering lines; he's crafting an entire persona, and his deliciously narcissistic portrayal of Hook is genuinely joyous to watch, bringing an undeniable smile to my face.

Equally brilliant is Louise Cielecki as Smee. Her infectious energy ensured the audience lit up every time she stepped on stage; keeping the comedy consistent and the pace sharp. She was fun and jolly, a consummate performer whose banter with the audience was pure brilliance, navigating the line between biting wit and outright caricature with precision.

With his boyish good looks, Samuel Bailey brings utterly infectious energy and genuine heart to the titular role of Peter Pan. His confident acting ability and slick movements ensures the timeless hero is both charismatic and endearing. His dynamic performance, which avoids being sickly sweet, perfectly embodies the boy who never grew up, bringing a bright and fresh-faced optimism that easily wins over the entire audience and provides the perfect contrast to Hook's villainy.

The entire company delivered powerhouse performances and I was particularly impressed with the extraordinary ensemble. Often in a pantomime the ensemble fades into the background, but nothing could be further from the truth here. Every character felt dialled in, with the passion from these talented young performers shining through from start to finish. The tightness of this ensemble meant the movements were slick and flawless and really hammered home the talent and professionalism of the entire cast.

The set, costumes and lighting were all brilliant here and I enjoyed the way that the onstage band members became part of the show too. The only small negative for me here was the sound. It was okay during the spoken parts but when the characters were singing it was unfortunately difficult to hear the lyrics. This was a real shame as if the rest of the script is anything to go by then I'm sure these lyrics were fantastic.

That aside, this is absolutely theatre as it should be - raw, engaging, and unapologetic fun! If you're looking for a night of pure family fun that doesn't take itself too seriously, then PETER PAN at the Greenwich Theatre is absolutely the show for you.

You're guarenteed a great night out with thie show, and if you're anything like me, you'll be planning your next visit as you're leaving the theatre! Click here to check availability and book your tickets for this show that is riotous family fun.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Peter Pan was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Anthony Spargo as Captain Hook; Samuel Bailey as Peter Pan; Louise Cielecki as Smee; Paul Criptoph as Starky / Car Wash Manager; Olivia Williamson as Tinkerbell; Nikita Johal as Wendy; Alex Marshall as Ensemble (Nibs, Mermaid); Louis Edwards as Ensemble (Slightly, Pirate); Giada Rocca as Ensemble (Tootles, Pirate); Georgia Brenchley as Ensemble (Curly, Pirate)

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 10 minutes, including interval

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