Panto season may roll around every year, but somehow it never gets old. Many children get their first taste of theatre at a panto, and go on to share this childhood rite of passage with their own families. So, of all the traditional pantomimes, perhaps the one that best encapsulates this sense of childhood nostalgia is Peter Pan. The boy who never grew up flies into Greenwich Theatre this year, bringing inter-generational joy to this South East London theatre that’s carved out quite a reputation for punching above its weight in the panto department.
Greenwich stalwart, Anthony Spargo is at the helm again once more (quite literally this time as he plays Captain Hook), penning the panto for his fourth year and returning as a performer for the 12th time. Spargo sets sail for Neverland with his trusty shipmate, Louise Cielecki (returning to Greenwich panto for her 4th year) as Smee. They’re joined by a host of familiar faces, including Samuel Bailey (last year’s Dick Whittington) as Peter Pan, and the legendary onstage duo of pianist, “Uncle” Steve Marwick and Gordon Parrish on guitar.
It wouldn’t be a Spargo script without a twist on the tale, so this version of Peter Pan sees Peter return to modern day London, where he finds Wendy Darling (Nikita Johal) working at the Neverclean carwash. (This element of the plot serves a limited purpose other than an excuse to work in the disco classic.) But this isn’t the Wendy of Peter’s memories. This is her great-granddaughter. And she’s about to join Peter and Tink (Olivia Williamson) on an epic adventure.
Things haven’t been all that exciting in Neverland recently because, while Peter remains perpetually sprightly, Captain Hook is feeling his age. But Tink’s got a plan that will have him back at his best, battling the Lost Boys and distracting Peter from this new girl he’s brought back with him. What follows is a bonkers mash-up of Hook and Indiana Jones, with the pirate crew heading off in search of the fountain of youth.
As always, it’s a fantastic production (directed by James Haddrell) that offers something for everyone, including a brilliant mix of familiar music. One particularly inspired choice is the use of Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild, performed by Tinkerbell. Spargo’s script is packed with puns – a reel of fish jokes will go down well with everyone, while a series of dirtier gags about fishing tackle will appeal to the older members of the audience. (We felt Spargo admirably held back on the low-hanging fruit in last year’s Dick Whittington, but rather makes up for it this year!) There are also some gentle swipes at other local areas, including Lewisham and Plumstead, that add to the community feel that Greenwich Panto has cultivated over the years.
It’s enjoyable production all round, but (as usual) things really come to life whenever Spargo and Cielecki are on stage together. Cielecki’s Smee takes on the traditional comic role, getting the audience going with a high-energy performance. Spargo is a seasoned panto performer and shines in his usual villlain role – ripping into the audience for not booing him properly, and taking jibes at everything from the design budget to his own script.
Talking of design, this is an element of the panto that Greenwich always does well and this year is no exception. As usual, Emily Bestow’s versatile revolving set is stuffed with surprises and plenty of sparkles. There is also some brilliant use of projections (with video design by Hannah Schlenker). It was joyful to watch so many children engage so strongly with this element of the production, with many holding their hands out on imaginary steering wheels during a driving sequence. A song from the Minecraft Movie and an obligatory 6-7 gag also go down very well.
Overall, Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure is a fantastic production that will entertain all ages from Gen Alpha to Boomers, and everyone in between. So if you want to recapture the magic of childhood, take the second star to the right (or the DLR to Cutty Sark) and straight on until Croom’s Hill.
Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure plays at Greeenwich Theatre from 28 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. We received complimentary tickets to the evening performance on Sunday 7 December.