This year the all-inclusive Theatre company CHICKENSHED  celebrates its 50th Anniversary and its 2024 Christmas production encompasses everything that makes this Theatre stand out, from the incredible stage, the energy from all the cast, and incredible performances all around.

Demar Lambert in the role of Peter Pan with Ellie Morton as Tinkerbell takes the Darling children on an adventure that they will never forget to Neverland where adults are not allowed and face Pan’s nemesis, Captain Hook (Jonny Morton). Morton plays an evil plotting Hook who’s never going to win against Pan.

Wendy played by Mouse O’Hehir along with her brothers John (Sebastian Lack) and Michael (Aidan Martins) represent the happy family unit which Pan craves although he doesn’t want to stay with them and become grown up.

Lambert’s skilled performance using the trapeze wires was a joy to watch. Twisting and turning his way across the sky to refuse to “grow up” and remain in the safety net of being a child without responsibility.

The voice effects for Tinkerbell allow the audience to suspend their disbelief and imagine a small fairy darting around the stage as she tries to help Pan navigate out of trouble while trying to hold back her jealousy of Pan’s attention towards Wendy.

The first pirate scene when the audience meets the villainous Captain Hook reminded me of what makes Chickenshed productions so important to the Theatre community. With over 100 cast members onstage filling every inch of Hook’s ship they were all thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Directors Michael Bossisse and Louise Perry  undertake a huge task with Chickenshed productions. The Green cast were outstanding although I can’t imagine that the other four casts would be any different.

During every scene at least one cast member would sign what was taking place. Allowing the audience to become part of the all-inclusive experience.

Chickenshed never fail to move me when I watch their productions. With their all inclusive ethos firmly entrenched in their history. Watching the entire cast performing together, supporting one another and at times prompting each other  you watch the ethos take shape infront of you.

The only part of PAN that was missing was a physical version of the crocodile that usually appears. However, some things can be left to the audience’s imagination and they can decide what the crocodile looks like.

Tonight’s performance was performed by the green team who are one of the five performance casts performing the play PAN this year. The entire cast are made up of 800 cast members.

I can highly recommend taking the journey across to North London and seeing for yourself just how marvellous the CHICKENSHED productions are.

For more information about PAN and CHICKENSHED please visit the link below.

Five Stars.

https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/

PAN is running from the 20th November 2024 until 11th January 2025.