COLCHESTER’S Mercury Theatre have announced the full cast and creative team for this year’s pantomime The New Adventures of Peter Pan.

The pantomime, which will run from November 23 to January 19, 2025,  is written by David Phipps-Davis and directed by Antony Stuart-Hicks.

Mercury pantomime legend, Dale Superville, who is currently performing in the West End cast of Fawlty Towers, will also return as Smee.

Favourites - (L to R) Antony Stuart-Hicks will return as the Dame Sherry Smee alongside  Dale Superville as Smee (Image: Pamela Raith) West End star David Breeds (Rock of Ages, Dear Evan Hansen) and Jazz Evans (Spamalot, Madagascar – The Musical) will both make their pantomime debuts as Peter Pan and Captain Hook respectively.

Debuts - Jazz Evans (Right) and David Breeds (Second to Right) will be making their Mercury Panto debuts  (Image: Pamela Raith) Returning to the Mercury for pantomime season will be Alexandra Barredo as Wendy, Nick Brittain-Keates as ensemble and understudy, Sasha Latoya as Tinkerbell, and Shelby Speed as ensemble and understudy.

Lead - Alexandra Barredo will be Wendy (Image: Pamela Raith) Playful - lL to R) Nick Brittain-Keates and Shelby Speed will be in the ensemble (Image: Pamela Raith)Further out of 126 hopefuls, sixteen young people aged between nine and 16 from all over Colchester were chosen to take part.

These include Isla Christie, Daisie McIntyre, Niamh Butcher, Tristan Mathieson-Scott, Harrison Agoro, Benjamin Spalding, Chloe Cheung, Roseanna Davis, Dolly Chew, Bella Guest, Lilia Gillooly, Misan Idowu, Archie Kropidlowski, Joe Clark, Miguel Benerayan and Chloe Long.

Chorus - Sixteen young people from across Colchester will be part of the chorus (Image: Pamela Raith) While on the creative team, there will be The Pantomime Award-winner designer Jasmine Swan, lighting designer Matt Ladkin, sound designer Nico Menghini, choreographer Rosie Mather, and musical director Joshua Tarrier.

Chorography - Chorography - (Image: Pamela Raith) Hero - David Breeds as Peter Pan (Image: Pamela Raith) Stuart-Hicks said: “Join us for Colchester’s favourite pantomime this Christmas as Neverland bursts to life in a spectacular production that’s fun for the whole family.

“The New Adventures of Peter Pan promises to be an awe-inspiring spectacle with the perfect blend of breath-taking sets and costumes, mind-blowing flying and effects, side-splitting comedy and of course the usual warning applies - I will very much be in it!”

Villain - Jazz Evans (Centre) as Captain HookVillain - Jazz Evans (Centre) as Captain Hook (Image: Pamela Raith)

Magical - Shelby Speed as Tinkerbell (Right) with David Breeds as PeterMagical - Shelby Speed as Tinkerbell (Right) with David Breeds as Peter (Image: Pamela Raith)There will be a range of accessible shows throughout the run including relaxed, audio described, captioned and BSL interpreted performances.

Returning this year, will be the adult-only pantomime with seven shows due to in January. 

Commotion - The cast of Peter Pan (Image: Pamela Raith)To be accessible, tickets start at £10 and there are fifty £10 tickets available at every off-peak performances with other tickets starting at £15.

Audiences are encouraged to book early and to find out more visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk