AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Peter Pan Jr - The Arena, Middleton. North Manchester.

Fairstage Academy is a dance and theatre arts club in Middleton, and has clesses for children between the ages of 3 and 17 in various dance styles from classical ballet to street dance, and also offers drama and singing tuition too. 

This early evening the school's local theatre, Middleton Arena, was a-buzz with parents, family and friends, all eagre to watch their child perform on stage.

The Junior version of the Peter Pan musical is a one-hour non-stop piece which keeps all the more memorable and easy-to-sing songs, and manages to still keep the story without too many chunks missing. It's an ideal show for the children too as there are many roles available for them... not only is there the three Darling children, Peter Pan, and Tinkerbell, but there's also Tiger Lily, and a whole host of Lost Boys and Indians (Tiger Lily's band).  Added to that, this evening we also had a band of pirates and a few dancing fairies too! Whilst the adults were performed by the academiy's oldest students. All this worked well, and I loved the inclusion of the fairies at the start of the show, such a lovely idea. 

The set was good: for a show that requires multiple scene changes from London townhouse bedroom, to forest, to on board a pirate ship, to the Lost Boys' hideout and many other places in between, the changes were swift and easily managed with minimal but pertinent large set items and carry-ons. Lighting and sound were also good, and I loved the costumes. Obviously a lot of thought and preparation had gone into the overall look and feel of the show.

In a show which is being performed by children, it is impossible not to be moved and enchanted by it all. I always hark back to my days as a child performer, and having no such opportunities as these and many other fortunate youngsters receive these days. Youth Theatres and academies for children simply did not exist back in my day! I had to content myself with joining an adult Amateur Dramatic Society and hoping they would chose a production which featured children!

It is also, almost nigh impossible not to have favourites too...! Of course, all on stage this evening deserve high praise; but if you will allow me to just single out one or two which impressed me over and above...! First, I enjoyed Wendy's (Thea W) singing. A lovely voice and had the character off very well indeed. And second...sadly I cannot name them, since I simply do not know which of the Lost Boys they were, however I can say that they were the young girls who sang solos and duets in the song 'Never Grow Up'. 

Congratulations to all.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 15.7.22