Panto Review: Peter Pan at Royal & Derngate

Review by Ally Richmond, Toddle About West Northants

Ohhh yes it is… an absolute festive treat! The Royal & Derngate’s Peter Pan swoops onto the stage with more sparkle, silliness, and fairy dust than you could shake a pirate’s hook at!

From the moment the curtain rose, Foreverland burst to life in a whirl of colour, music, and mischief. Peter Pan was every bit the cheeky, charming hero — all bright eyes and boundless energy — while Poppy Sunshine brought warmth and heart (and a surprisingly impressive set of pipes!).

But the star-stealer of the show? Captain Hook, of course. Deliciously dramatic and fabulously wicked. Every “BOOOO!” from the crowd only seemed to fuel him further. Utterly brilliant — a perfect mix of chaos, comedy, and charm.

The show was packed with laugh-out-loud gags, perfectly timed slapstick, and those classic “oh no you didn’t!” pantomime moments that had the kids in stitches and the grown-ups laughing just as hard. The flying scenes were properly magical, really well done, my five year old was entranced by the magic.

And the songs! Big voices, big choreography and big festive feels. 

In true pantomime fashion, there were local jokes and audience participation galore. It’s warm, witty, wonderfully silly — everything a Christmas pantomime should be.

Verdict: A truly joyful, high-energy adventure bursting with heart. A must-see family treat that brings Northampton its very own sprinkle of Foreverland magic.

There are various showings throughout December until New Years Eve. Get your tickets now.

Photography by Pamela Raith