The Stage

Peter Pan to return ‘home’ to Kensington Gardens

Published Thursday 15 March 2007 at 11:20 by Alistair Smith

Peter Pan is to return to Kensington Gardens, the setting of JM Barrie’s original novel, when a new tented production of the play is staged there next year.

Producers Charlie Burnell and Matthew Churchill are to present a newly written and newly scored, large-scale adaptation of Barrie’s work in a 700-seat tent on the banks of the Serpentine. According to the pair, the tent will be located along the flight path of Peter’s first journey and within view of the gardens’ Peter Pan statue.

Churchill explained that the production would use “exciting new aerial flying techniques” and appeal to adults as well as children.

He added: “There’s a sense that we’re bringing Peter Pan back home and it feels like a great creative opportunity because it has been a long time since a creatively bold piece has been done.

“We see Peter Pan as being, in a sense, a neglected piece that has for too long been deemed purely children’s entertainment and as such is often given a two-dimensional treatment.”

The new adaptation will feature 16 performers plus an orchestra. While the cast and creative team is still being confirmed, the production is due to run from May 23 to August 31, 2008.

Burnell added: “Once we had come up with the idea of doing Peter Pan, it seemed obvious to stage it where it was created. It is going to be a major production. It will have the same feel as a West End or National Theatre show.

“We would love to take the show to other countries - maybe Europe or Australia. Peter Pan is such a well loved story and is universally recognised. If we achieve what we’re hoping to achieve, the joy of the theatre tent idea is that you can take everything with you.”

The news comes shortly after director Tim Supple, who is currently working on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Roundhouse in Camden, revealed he is also planning to stage a reworking of Peter Pan in 2008.

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