Wendy & Peter Pan at Leeds Playhouse cast and creatives announced

Casting and creatives have been announced for Leeds Playhouse’s festive production of Wendy & Peter Pan.

Ella Hickson’s adaptation of J M Barrie’s classic tale will be co-directed by Jonathan Munby and Rupert Hands and play at Leeds Playhouse from 18 Nov 2021 – 22 Jan 2022.

Told from the viewpoint of Wendy Darling, the unique retelling has been created in co-production with Bunkamura Theatre in Japan.

The cast will feature Amber James as Wendy Darling, Pierro Niel Mee as Peter Pan, Hope Kenna as Tink, Ami Okumura Jones as Tiger Lily, David Birrell as Hook/Mr Darling and Brian Lonsdale as Smee.

The Darling family consists of Amy Rockson (Mrs Darling), Corey Montague-Sholay (John Darling), Stefan Race (Michael Darling) and David Carpenter (Tom Darling).

The lost boys will include Callum Balmforth (Tooties), Richard Leeming (Slightly), James Stevenson (Curly), Thomas Pickles (Martin the Cabin Boy), Cassidy Little (Doc Swain), Hadley Smith (Knock-Bone Jones) and Ramône Dale-Cruickshank (Murt the Bat).

Finally the cast will be completed by the shadows, Jason Battersby, Peter Losasso, Kelvin Ade, Simone Lewis, Richard Peralta, Leon Smith and Xolani Crabtree.

The piece features design by Colin Richmond and a score by Japanese composer, Shuhei Kamimura.

The full creative team includes choreographer Lucy Hind, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, sound designer Chris Shutt, video designer Taiki Ueda, fight director Terry King, assistant director Ellie Taylor and casting director Annelie Powell CDG.

Director Jonathan Munby said: “We’re thrilled to have assembled such a stellar cast for this new version of Wendy & Peter Pan in Leeds. A company that includes some of the country’s finest performers, from some of the best local talent to familiar faces and rising stars.

“We are also very proud of the diversity represented by this incredibly talented company. This show comes hot foot from Tokyo where it played alongside the Olympics to capacity audiences and rave reviews. It’s a unique cultural hybrid of the very best creatives from both the UK and Japan.

“It’s a production that has so far been a truly inspiring, international collaboration. We can’t wait to share this fresh new reimagining of a classic with the Leeds audience this Christmas.”

Lucy Hind, Choreographer, added: “Our collaboration is unique as it brings together Leeds Playhouse and Theatre Bunkamura in Tokyo. We’ve been sharing skills and top tips so we can make the very best production for audiences here in Leeds.

“As with most Christmas productions, it is a family show, but it isn’t just for children, it’s got adventure, peril and danger. It’s going to touch the hearts of parents and grownups. After spending a year isolated from one another, we can now come together to enjoy the magic of theatre.”

Wendy & Peter Pan will run at Leeds Playhouse from 18 November 2021 – 22 January 2022 with tickets available online here.