For anyone that thinks children’s theatre is just a little introduction and nothing much to be thought of, they need to see Peter Pan at Polka! This portrayal of the classic story by J.M Barrie is super sophisticated, super dark and super enjoyable for not just the little ones but for the adults too!
We went to see a ‘Watch With Baby’ showing as the advised age is 6+ but not a peep could be heard from any of the children who were thoroughly engrossed, if a little nervously scared at times, in the magical story being played out in front of them. My children are very well seasoned theatre goers but I imagine not all in the audience were and yet all eyes, even the tiny ones, were firmly focussed on the stage where a handful of actors played a bigger handful of cast members with such great ease it was difficult to tell who had switched roles and to what.
The story is, in my mind, as it should be and without the Disney schmaltz Tinkerbell really comes into herself. The show is a mixture of puppetry and acting which is something that looks incredibly easy although I am sure it is down to the slick cast and direction as it simply must be as difficult as working with animals. The puppets are beautiful and so intriguing, both of my children were delighted every time Tinkerbell was on the stage.
I liked that darkness was left in where it could have been taken out and I liked that this made the story feel real even though, of course, it is rather fanciful. I loved Peter Pan who was cool and rather gorgeous and Wendy was a lovely sweet thin with the edge a girl needs to really kick butt! I suspect a few things may not have run to plan at the showing we went to see as the director was playing Captain Hook rather than the named actor but we certainly didn’t enjoy it less for the experience I think.
This is not a pantomime, if you want that then head to the Peter Pan performance up the road in Wimbledon. This is a play, with music, dancing and an ever so brief interlude of audience interaction but a play it is all the same and a rather grown up one at that. Magical and we loved it, this is theatre for children who love theatre and adults too, you won’t be disappointed but then at Polka, one very rarely is.
Check out this video from the rehearsals, it’s very interesting.
Peter Pan is showing at Polka from now until the middle of February 2015.
We were given complimentary tickets in return for an honest review.
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