PAN, Chickenshed Review
Written by Emily for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
2024 marks Chickenshed’s 50th year and they are wrapping up the celebrations with a production of PAN. This is the classic tale of Peter Pan, but with a Chickenshed stamp firmly put on it. If you’ve seen a production by this wonderful company, you will know what that means. Put simply, their stage is always full of vibrancy, energy and most importantly a sense of community and belonging.
The show begins with the Storytellers, noted by Director Michael Bossisse as acting as “a bridge between the past and the present, connecting the timeless themes of Peter Pan with today’s world”. They appear throughout the production and add a refreshing feel to the traditional story we all know and love.
To give all their young performers a chance to shine, Chickenshed’s productions work by using an alternating rota system. Each rota is made up of different leads and supporting casts of children and young people from their Young Company. There is then a core cast of adult and young adult performers who take part in every show and act as mentors for the younger cohorts. It’s hard to single out anyone in the core cast, but Jonny Morton as Mr. Darling/Hook and Courtney Dayes as Shadow/Storyteller are particularly strong.
For PAN, as well as the lead performers, there is a group portraying Storytellers, a group of fairies called The Tinks, a group portraying The Lost Ones (The Lost Boys in the traditional story) and The Pirates. It’s clear that every performer wants to be on the stage and their enthusiasm and energy are a joy to witness. What shines through most of all is that sense of community and belonging, something that is present in every Chickenshed production.
The design elements of the show are effective, with various moveable set pieces being used, depicting a variety of locations throughout. The space is used well, and there is a good use of levels, particularly during the pirate ship scenes. And not forgetting when Peter Pan takes flight! The addition of puppetry to depict the Darling family’s dog, Nana, is also enjoyable.
This festive season, go and support a company that brings together young people from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities, to create productions that are truly heartwarming and uplifting.
At Rayne Theatre, Chickenshed until 11 January 2025
★★★★
