Peter Pan at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Thanks to the Sherman Theatre for providing us with review tickets for Peter Pan

It’s been a good couple of weeks for the Sherman Theatre. The Cardiff theatre was shortlisted for Theatre of the Year by prestigious industry newspaper The Stage, with two of their productions – Romeo and Julie, and Housemates, coproductions with National Theatre and Hijinx Theatre respectively – listed in their 50 best shows. A fitting way for the Sherman to round up their 50^th birthday year.

Watching Peter Pan, their Christmas production for those aged 7+, is another reminder of just why this Cardiff theatre is leading the way when it comes to contemporary stage productions.

A co-production with Theatre Iolo, who are renowned for their children’s theatre, it’s a moving, thought-provoking show which will have you laughing out loud one minute and wiping a tear from your eye the next.

If you’re expecting a jovial Disney-style retelling of JM Barrie’s classic children’s book, or a panto version, then think again. As anyone who’s been to the Sherman’s Christmas shows for older children in recent years will know, it’s always a reimagined version, offering a new take on some of the most classic stories, with A Christmas Carol, The Borrowers and Alice in Wonderland among the excellent adaptations of recent years.

And Peter Pan, although funny at times, is one of the deepest, and darkest, I’ve seen on the Sherman’s main stage. It’s told from the perspective of Wendy, 12 years old, not wanting to grow up, and with parents on the brink of divorce.

When her mother and father head out to a party in an attempt to save the relationship, Wendy (Emily Burnett) is all too happy to fly out of the window to Neverland with Peter and her brothers, Michael (Kevin McIntosh) and John (Peter Mooney). However, instead of a land of adventures, she finds herself as a downtrodden mother and wife.

What starts as make-believe games of pretend weddings and acting out what the Lost Boys remember of their own parents, soon moves into resentment as Wendy is left at home while Peter goes gallivanting, asking her to cater for his every whim and then dismissing it as banter when she protests. She soon begins to feel the weight of caring for the Lost Boys, quite literally in one very relatable scene where they all throw their bags into her arms and run off. As she makes the decision to head back home, it’s with a new understanding that her parents splitting up isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Catherine Dyson’s writing is sharp, incisive, heartfelt and witty. I loved the female casting of Rebecca Hayes as Peter Pan and Alex Murdoch as Hook, and equally Owen Alun as Tink. Hayes has an arrogant swagger and a slightly menacing side, while Murdoch’s initially jovial Hook makes way for a more sinister character intent on revenge. Alun, speaking with a North Walian accent and in a mixture of Welsh, English and Spanish, looks hilarious, appearing quite literally as a ball of blue fluff, delivering some of his funniest lines completely deadpan, while Rebecca Killick’s Nana sits drinking a beer once banished outside. Sherman regular Keiron Self is Mr Darling, Smee and Tootles, although is never quite given the opportunity to shine as much as we know he can from previous productions.

I’m a huge fan of the Sherman’s Christmas shows – they’ve been a fixture in our festive season for at least 10 years, even before the days of reviewing them for Cardiff Mummy Says. Their last few productions for older children have been incredible. This one, gosh, I found it moving and powerful. It made me cry. However, at times I wondered if there was more for the parents to relate to than the children. Perhaps some of the subtleties were lost on them. My younger two were a little confused at times.

That said, there was plenty for younger audience members to enjoy. The flying scenes choreographed by Cardiff’s NoFit State circus are brilliant, as the children fall and float about in the air. There’s so much humour, and some fantastic original songs written by Gwyneth Herbert and performed by the cast members, who double up as instrumentalists too. The crocodile gets a great response as it munches on Hook, and in the final scenes there’s some moving moments as we see the future of the Darling family.

If you’re looking for something a little different to the big budget Christmas shows, then the Sherman is it, offering thought-provoking family theatre at a reasonable price.

Peter Pan is at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff until 6 January 2024. Tickets cost £16-£27 with under 25s half price. Age guidance 7+, running time approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.

For younger children, there’s Hansel and Gretel, also on until 6 January, in the Sherman’s smaller studio theatre. Tickets cost £9.50, with the production also available in a Welsh language version. Age guidance 3-6, running time approximately 45 minutes with no interval.

For more information on both productions, visit the website here.