Directed by Adam Meggio and written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are back on stage, battling technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes as they attempt to present J.M Barrie’s much-loved tale of Peter Pan. But will they ever make it to Neverland? 

Peter Pan Goes Wrong, part of the ever growing Mischief Theatre (which includes the hugely successful The Play That Goes Wrong), has remained one of my favourite productions since I was lucky enough to watch it in February 2020. Would it be just as funny the second time round?

Yes. Yes it was. 

From the very beginning, the stagehands are making their ‘last minute’ adjustments, encouraging audience members to join in. We’re informed by the oh-so-serious Chris Bean (Jack Michael Stacey), Director of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society that this isn’t a pantomime (cue the first of many “oh yes it is responses”). The ‘actors’ enthusiastically start the performance…

… and what follows is two hours of hilarity and chaos as everything does indeed go wrong. Characters are under and over-acted, costumes changes don’t work, props fail and collapse, the audience is plunged into darkness as fuses blow, the sound cues are disastrous… and I’ll leave the absolute spectacle of Peter Pan taking flight to your own imagination. 

With a small cast, many of the amateurs from the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society have to take on multiple roles – Robert Grove (Matthew Howell), assistant co-director is Nana the Dog, Peter’s Shadow and Starkey, who spends the majority of the performing vying for control against Chris Bean. Sandra (Understudy Claire Noy), plays Mrs Darling, the Maid and Tinkerbell with multiple impressive costume changes, and Dennis Tyde (Clark Devlin) as John Darling and Mr Smee requires headphones so his lines can be fed to him, delivered in a manner that would make Michael Crawford proud. Theo Toksvig-Stewart plays the sweet love-struck Max Bennet, playing Michael Darling and the Crocodile, and his interaction with the audience made him a favourite right from the beginning. 

Understudy Consuela Rolle stepped in for Press Night to play Sandra, who is playing Wendy Darling with such enthusiasm that her overacting adds an extra level of hilarity. Jonathan (Gareth Tempest) is the handsome Peter Pan who seems to have an eye for the ladies. Lucy (Rosemarie Akwafo) is Tootles who can’t overcome her stage fright, and Trevor Watson (Jake Burgum), is the Stage Manager who becomes far more involved in the production than he intends (and the audience sees far more of him than expected – I’ll leave that to your imagination).

I was particularly pleased to see Jean-Luke Worrell as Francis Beaumont playing the Narrator. Always a scene stealer, Worrell is a glitter-throwing riot who had the audience roaring in their seats. I’ll never hear It’s Raining Men the same way again.

A performance this bad can only be delivered with such effectiveness by a group of talented actors, and each bring something wonderful to the show. Combined with set design by Simon Scullion, costume by Roberto Surace, lighting by Matt Haskins and sound by Ella Wahlstrom, the level of choreography and timing needed to be able to pull off such continuous carnage on stage is impressive, and it was perfectly executed. 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Peter Pan Goes Wrong – a fun evening of chaos for all the family! 

Peter Pan Goes Wrong will be on stage until Saturday 23rd March 2024. Purchase your tickets here.