★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

Looking for a panto to keep you laughing all the way to Christmas? Look no further than Greenwich Theatre’s latest instalment, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’. This riotous show is packed with slapstick, silliness and sparkle for all the family. It’s cheeky, cheerful and utterly charming – catch it while you can!

It’s 2025 and Wendy’s great granddaughter (also called Wendy) is stuck working at a car wash. Luckily her necklace doubles as a distress beacon, summoning Peter Pan who whisks her off to Neverland. Meanwhile, Captain Hook frets about his ‘old’ age, and Tinker Bell – jealous of Wendy’s arrival – tips Hook off about a fountain of youth. Cue pirates, puppets, misadventures, double entendres and more fish puns than you can shake a hook at.

Award winning writer Anthony Spargo returns with his fourth Greenwich panto, a gloriously bonkers spin on J. M. Barrie’s classic tale. Modern twists abound, from a Gen Z Tinker Bell to a flying Vauxhall Astra. The script is crammed with jokes of every flavour: puns, dad jokes and cheeky double entendres, with as many groans as belly laughs. Spargo’s fresh spin has plenty of fun for families and even more for the grown ups. I would argue not every song is necessary, but the sheer comic energy keeps the show fizzing.

Directed by James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director, expect the traditional campy villains and strait-laced goodies. Inventive video transitions, slick turntable scene changes and flying antics keep things lively, while Tink’s Heelys and a pile of puppets add extra fun. There are some genius moments, such as the age-defying fountain of youth, and the ‘Indiana Jones’ style boulders bouncing over the audience. The pace zips along until the shout outs and sing off at the end, leaving the finale a touch flat. Still, it’s a cracking good time.

The music is directed by ‘Uncle’ Steve Markwick on piano, with Gordon Parrish on guitar and Chris Wyles on drums. The trio create a full, lively sound. A panto isn’t complete without song parodies, though not every number feels necessary – the over used ‘Anything You Can Do’ duet springs to mind, though this does allow Smee (Louise Cielecki) to show off her pipes. Some songs rely on rather simple word swaps, though the fish pun medley is a genuine hoot.

Set and costume design by Emily Bestow is a glitter laden gift with impressively detailed hand-painted sets. Costumes embrace DIY panto charm, with Hook’s enormous hat stealing the show. Aidan Good’s sound design could do with more balance, as the band overpowers the singers and Tinker Bell’s (Olivia Williamson) vocals struggle to cut through. That said, the varied use of sound effects and incidental music adds real sparkle. Henry Slater’s lighting design becomes increasingly playful with moments of real theatrical flair. Nancy Kettle’s choreography is suitably playful, keeping the action lively. Hannah Schlenker’s video design is slick and inventive, with some standout moments including the ‘Mario Kart’ style sequence. Puppets by Pavlov’s Puppets and Naomi Oppenheim are a delight.

Spargo’s Hook is the star of the show, brimming with all the charisma, swagger and camp flair befitting a panto villain. Spargo commands the stage with impeccable timing and sharp asides and is a joy to watch. Samuel Bailey’s Peter Pan brings infectious energy and a strikingly powerful voice. Nikita Johal’s Wendy matches this with a perky presence and equally impressive vocals. Alex Marshall’s mermaid is a surprise highlight, oozing unexpected charm. The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto.

If you’re pining for a pun-packed panto, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’ is the one for you. Brimming with laughs for children and adults alike, it’s a glittering treat worth catching while you can.

LIVE AT THE WORKS WITH RUSSELL KANE

Woolwich Works

★★★★★

“a masterclass in high octane comedy, combining ferocious wit with satisfying depth”

Woolwich Works’ flagship comedy night, ‘Live at the Works’, regularly draws high profile talent, staking its claim as East London’s comedy capital. Tonight’s line-up – Tadiwa Mahlunge, Sarah Keyworth and Russell Kane, deftly hosted by Amy Gledhill – delivers a raucous mix of wit and social commentary. Upping the ante until we’re literally gasping, expect an uproariously funny yet sharply insightful night.

Produced by the award-winning Show and Tell, we start with host and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, Amy Gledhill. Gledhill – from Hull – opens playfully with some gentle northern bashing. Audience participation is plentiful and sharp, though perhaps a beat too long in places. But Gledhill makes up for it with a hilarious story about Grimsby burlesque featuring a hapless balloon artist named Sharon. Even in warm up mode, the laughs are steady. After the interval, Gledhill returns sharper and snappier than before. Hull University becomes a running gag thanks to an unexpectedly high number of alumni in the house. The atmosphere becomes communal with Gledhill impressively working the crowd. The fact not one of the Hull alumni present seems to have used their degree becomes a punchy concluding one-liner. An impressive display of improv and comedic flair.

Opening the night is Comedy Central’s rising star, Tadiwa Mahlunge. Born in Zimbabwe, raised in Cardiff and now based in Croydon, expect incisive comedy about cultural displacement and casual racism, among other things. Mahlunge toys with audience expectations, skilfully leaning into or away from unconscious biases to keep us guessing. A gag about trainers seems to fall flat with the largely white crowd – or does it? His sharp riffing on the silence is so quick witted it’s hard to tell what’s scripted and what’s pure instinct. With an easy knack for weaving in callbacks that feel slick and fresh, Mahlunge proves himself a comic talent to watch.

Next up is award winning comedian Sarah Keyworth, delivering a hilarious set that immediately draws us into their world. Themes range from youthful looks to lesbian foursomes, balancing punchy wit with an easy-going tone. Razor sharp riffing turns a slip of the tongue – calling their girlfriend ‘mum’ (awkward) – into comedy gold. Audience participation is met with sharp, snappy responses that keep the room buzzing. Keyworth’s playful mic work adds texture, even if it’s occasionally held a touch too far away. A highlight is the story about top surgery, challenging the BSL interpreter to translate ‘the surgeons moved my nipples’ with uproarious effect. It’s sharp, inventive comedy, delivered with disarming calm that makes even the deepest content accessible.

The star of the evening is multi award winning comedian, presenter, actor and author Russell Kane. His energetic, rapid fire set is outrageously funny, tearing through a dizzying range of topics – from Gregg Wallace, social anxiety, permissive parenting, Brexit, Keir Starmer and more with barely a pause for breath. Kane’s edgy style cuts deep, while pitch perfect impersonations and physical dynamism amplify the absurdity. The audience erupts in waves of ‘I can’t believe he just said that’ laughter, while the BSL interpreter is left scrambling to keep up – often stifling their own laughter in the process. Yet beneath the relentless humour lies genuine concern for society, closing with a seamless shift to sober reflection that drives home his core points. It’s a masterclass in high octane comedy, combining ferocious wit with satisfying depth.

The staging is deliberately stripped back, a bare stage backed by Woolwich Works’ distinctive zigzag emblem. The sound is slightly boomy which Keyworth uses to comic effect, though Kane’s rapid fire delivery sometimes outpaces it. The lighting is kept simple, which is effective enough until Kane’s rampant energy drives him into the shadows at the stage’s edge – though more testament to Kane’s irrepressible style than any technical flaw.

‘Live at the Works with Russell Kane’ is a riotously funny night – miss it and you’ve missed out. Gledhill, Mahlunge, Keyworth and Kane each light up the stage, blending sharp insight with irresistible humour. Keep your eyes peeled for future shows at this up-and-coming venue.

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

Reviewed on 5th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Greenwich Theatre

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PETER PAN

PETER PAN

PETER PAN

LIVE AT THE WORKS WITH RUSSELL KANE

Woolwich Works

★★★★★

“a masterclass in high octane comedy, combining ferocious wit with satisfying depth”