Peter Pan - Howden Park Centre, Livingston Review
Written by Jacqueline for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Howden Park Centre is a bright and vibrant part of the Livingston community and is a cornerstone of the West Lothian theatre scene. The venue boasts a varied programme of productions to suit all ages, from tribute acts and comedians to plays and musicals. In 2023, the venue was at risk of closure due to funding cuts to local leisure facilities, but fortunately, the theatre was saved after a significant public outcry- see our article about it here https://theatreandtonic.co.uk/blog/hands-off-howden-park-saving-livingstons-local-theatre Howden Park Centre has recently been taken over by Reconnect Regal Theatre in Bathgate to form Reconnect Theatres, West Lothian’s main arts provider. It’s absolutely essential that audiences support local theatre, so I was excited to head along to check out Peter Pan.
The road to Peter Pan hasn’t been a smooth one, with cast changes being made just weeks before opening night. Though the production must be applauded for overcoming these hurdles, there were points where it felt as though the cast as a whole hadn’t yet fully gelled as a group. There were a few points were actors onstage seemed disengaged with what the other performers were saying, as if they were simply awaiting their next line. Having said that, this is likely a simple teething issue as the cast fully settle into the production and I believe that if I were to watch the show again in a few weeks time then it would be a different experience. Furthermore, many of the performers shone in their roles. Captain Hook (Alex Lynne) was both menacing and hilarious, and his act two solo (performed in high heels, I’d like to add!) was fantastic. The dynamic between Smee (Sam Stuart Fraser) and Captain Hook was very enjoyable to watch, and felt very natural onstage. Tinkerbell (Reece McInroy) had huge stage presence and built up a great rapport with the audience, responding seamlessly during audience interjection. I was slightly surprised that Peter (Ross Jamieson) and Wendy (Jen Cassidy) weren’t onstage more often, but they were as great as each other. John (Maya Munro) and Michael (Jonny Tulloch) were charming, and the audience loved getting to shout out about little Michael being “only four!”. Finally, the ‘incoherent pirate’ (Reese Hannah) brought lots of laughs throughout the show. The ensemble of children were charming and you could tell that they were having so much fun onstage- I’m sure many of them will be in future productions at Howden Park.
Despite being in a small venue, Peter Pan makes full use of the space through its sets and costumes. The large pirate ship was used to great effect, and the mermaid lagoon was skilfully done using fabric sheets. The costumes were bright and detailed, while still sticking closely to the images of Peter and the gang that we already know and love, such as Wendy’s blue dress and Tinkerbell’s iconic green outfits.
One aspect of the show that could be tightened up is the pacing. A lot of children in the audience were visibly restless during some scenes, and the dialogue could potentially have been condensed to progress the plot a bit more quickly and to hold the audience’s attention better. Although songs were featured, these weren’t necessarily used to develop the story and instead seemed slightly disconnected from the main storyline. Perhaps interspersing the songs with the dialogue a bit more could’ve made for a more cohesive production.
Overall, Peter Pan at Howden Park Centre is a festive treat for the people of Livingston, full of magic and festive cheer. I’m thoroughly looking forward to seeing what Reconnect Theatres produce throughout 2025 and beyond.
Peter Pan runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes and plays at the Howden Park Centre, Livingston until December 31st.
