Bucks &amp; Oxon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Further_Adventures_of_Peter_Pan_cast_20AWT-1000x667.jpg" alt="Peter Pan floating above dancing cast The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre" class="wp-image-179113" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Further_Adventures_of_Peter_Pan_cast_20AWT-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Further_Adventures_of_Peter_Pan_cast_20AWT-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Further_Adventures_of_Peter_Pan_cast_20AWT-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Further_Adventures_of_Peter_Pan_cast_20AWT.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Aylesbury&#8217;s done it again! Their latest panto, The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook (bit of a mouthful) smashes the high notes of joyful silliness, so grab your life jackets for a swashbuckling performance that’s galleons of fun. There’s pyrotechnics, a large crocodile, fairy dust, lots of flying action and magic galore.



Frankly, the plot is pretty simple but for a family-friendly Christmas show you wouldn&#8217;t be expecting Chekhov. In a nutshell, Captain Hook is back, and Peter Pan must face his old enemy once more. Wendy Darling’s great, great granddaughter Emily joins the adventure and opens the door to plenty of selfie and social media jokes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Maeve_Byrne_AWT-1000x667.jpg" alt="Peter Pan and Emily The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre" class="wp-image-179109" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Maeve_Byrne_AWT-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Maeve_Byrne_AWT-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Maeve_Byrne_AWT-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Maeve_Byrne_AWT.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The crocodile is brought bang up to date too – the ‘TikTok’ which usually refers to the swallowed clock is given a 2024 refresh as the croc recreates dances made famous by the social media channel. My 12-year-old daughter jigs along in her seat, while kids across the theatre start busting the moves. Sing-a-longs to Ghostbusters and Girls Just Want To Have Fun (and others) are also shoehorned into the action. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THE20FURTHER20ADVENTURES20OF20PETER20PAN_AWT_-1000x667.jpg" alt="Smee, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, Emily against a london backdrop The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre" class="wp-image-179110" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THE20FURTHER20ADVENTURES20OF20PETER20PAN_AWT_-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THE20FURTHER20ADVENTURES20OF20PETER20PAN_AWT_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THE20FURTHER20ADVENTURES20OF20PETER20PAN_AWT_-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/THE20FURTHER20ADVENTURES20OF20PETER20PAN_AWT_.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andy Collins as Smee, centre</figcaption></figure>



Ultimately Smee, Aylesbury panto legend and BBC Three Counties Radio presenter Andy Collins, steals the show but he’s supported by a strong cast who are clearly having a blast. Upping the star factor is Bradley Riches (Netflix’s Heartstopper, ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother 2024) as an elfin Peter Pan and West End star Emma Jay Thomas (Miss Saigon, MAMMA MIA!) sparkles as Emily Darling’s mum and Ethel the Mermaid.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Leanne_Garretty_Castielli_School_of_Dance_AWT-1000x667.jpg" alt="Tinkerbell The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre" class="wp-image-179111" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Leanne_Garretty_Castielli_School_of_Dance_AWT-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Leanne_Garretty_Castielli_School_of_Dance_AWT-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Leanne_Garretty_Castielli_School_of_Dance_AWT-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Leanne_Garretty_Castielli_School_of_Dance_AWT.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Leanne Garretty as Tinkerbell</figcaption></figure>



Mark Moraghan (Holby City and Coronation Street) is fabulous as the devilish and sinister Captain Hook complete with flowing black locks – clearly relishing the baddie role. Maeve Byrne (Heathers the Musical) is an enthusiastic and wide-eyed Emily, and Leanne Garretty (Only Fools &amp; Horses and We Will Rock You) a feisty, funny rollerskating Tinker Bell alongside her baby belles, young dancers from the Castielli School of Dance and Allstars Academy.



The interactive fun ramps up further in the second half, there’s an entertaining tumbling routine and the famous 12 Days of Christmas sing-along including seven toilet rolls, which are repeatedly flung into and then around the audience with Smee in hot (sweaty!) pursuit. The much-anticipated water fight is hilarious with kids and parents getting involved.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Peter_Pan_AWT_-1000x667.jpg" alt="Bradley Riches as Peter Pan" class="wp-image-179114" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Peter_Pan_AWT_-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Peter_Pan_AWT_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Peter_Pan_AWT_-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Bradley_Riches_Peter_Pan_AWT_.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bradley Riches as Peter Pan</figcaption></figure>



The cleverly designed sets and dazzling costumes create the perfect backdrop for the action. I love the scene which sees Peter Pan ‘fly’ Emily home – use of a semi-transparent screen makes it look as though they are high above the island and sea before arriving in London. Let’s not forget the pyrotechnics, which shoot fire into the air on both sides of the stage for dramatic effect.



The joy of panto pulls in everyone – even my 14-year-old son is clapping and shouting by the end. So, if you’re after a night of family fun, look no further. Gather your crew and book your tickets now for a laugh-out-loud new chapter in Neverland. Just don’t forget your water pistol!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Jack_Robbins_Andy_Collins_AWT.jpg" alt="pirate leapfrogging over Smee The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre" class="wp-image-179112" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Jack_Robbins_Andy_Collins_AWT.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Jack_Robbins_Andy_Collins_AWT-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Jack_Robbins_Andy_Collins_AWT-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/Jack_Robbins_Andy_Collins_AWT-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<ul>
<li>The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook is on at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre until Sun 5 Jan. Find tickets <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-further-adventures-of-peter-pan-the-return-of-captain-hook/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>

Review: Further Adventures of Peter Pan, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

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