Wendy & Peter Pan

by Ella Hickson, J.M. Barrie (Creator)

Ella Hickson's version of J.M. Barrie's much-loved story puts the character of Wendy firmly centre stage, in an adaptation that is refreshingly modern but never loses the charm of the original.

Winter, 1909. Snow is falling across London. Wendy Darling and her brothers sleep peacefully in their bedroom, as their parents bicker downstairs. In a sudden flurry of snow their window blows open, and into their lives tumbles a mischievous boy called Peter, followed by a fractious fairy called Tink. With the aid of a little fairy dust, Wendy agrees to fly with Peter to Neverland, seeing not only the promise of an awfully big adventure, but also the chance to rediscover the key to her parents' lost happiness. Once there, she will give the Lost Boys a run for their money, defeat Captain Hook and his pirate crew, and ultimately, learn what it means to grow up.

Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Ella Hickson's Wendy & Peter Pan premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in December 2013. The play will suit any theatre company or youth group looking to stage a classic tale, full of magic, adventure and strong female roles.

"[A] sensitive, funny and intelligent reworking... I laughed, I gasped, I cried - it is wonderful to be transported so completely by a piece of theatre." - WhatsOnStage

"Delightful... a warm, sensitive and humorous reboot." - Evening Standard

"Resoundingly successful... witty, pointed, adventuresome... Hickson isn't just subverting this story, she is strengthening it." - The Times (London)

"Wittily inventive... a constant joy to behold." - Guardian

Ella Hickson is an award-winning and critically acclaimed playwright. Her debut play Eight won a Fringe First and played in London and New York. Other work includes Precious Little Talent (Trafalgar Studios), Boys (HighTide Festival, then Soho Theatre), Hot Mess (Latitude Festival, then The Arcola) and The Authorised Kate Bane (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh).

Genres: Plays

136 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that there is plenty of space in the world for this play even if it’s not my cup of tea. This is my third Wendy-centric Pan this year and I just prefer texts that rely on the original more because really all the Wendy stuff you need is right there, no adaptation necessary, particularly if you’re going with a female Hook (the only option in my eyes). I prefer my Pans a little less shallow, a little less panto, to be honest, but I don’t begrudge this one trying something. It seemed torn between two things happening really, the rah rah girl power and the lost child and I think it suffered because of that.

[Aeron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this play! I'm really hoping to see it at the RSC this Winter when they revive it. Ella Hickson has beautifully added her own spin of Peter Pan & Wendy in giving Wendy and the female characters their time to shine and portraying her interpretation of what Neverland and the Lost Boys really are (which I found pretty ingenious). All of her edits and adaptions to the plot felt very natural and didn't feel out of place with the iconic moments from the original story! I'd definitely recommend for a refreshing take on Peter Pan and Wendy!

[Anna Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

HOOK. Wendy, why is it that Peter Pan never has to grow up - but you have to be Mother right from the get-go?

An adaptation of Peter Pan that is not quite able to find a good balance between its aim to reveal the unpleasant truths about the treatment of female characters in the story/era and a "lost child/dealing with grief" subplot that begins and ends with a vague emotional resolution that would probably come across as more impactful in a fantastical production than it does on the page.

It definitely feels like the type of play where having great actors can make the script work, but I constantly found myself wondering what the playwright's aim was at times due to wavering characterization and half-poked themes. For instance, I can see what the playwright was trying to do with Wendy, Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell... but the resolution felt unearned and too hokey based on the build-up that came before it.

Despite the play theoretically having more of an emphasis on Wendy and the treatment of women, it's Captain Hook who seems to get the best introspection and dialogue, such as this memorable passage from when he poisons Peter's medicine:

"I don't want your life, Peter--I don't want your charm--I don't even want your youth. I want your time. Give me your time. Time again--time to make mistakes, time to be unsure--a time when errors were lessons and not failures. When things could still turn out all right; when hope was not so foolish--oh, Peter--you lucky thing--take me back to endlessness... take me back to a time before I was aware of time."

I feel like if you're interested in Peter Pan adaptations, you might want to check this one out. I didn't rave over it, but I didn't hate it either. There are some interesting things within the pages that did make it worth the evening read.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting adaptation, but it suffers from trying to be two things. One the one hand it’s very “rah rah girl power” with Wendy, Tiger Lily, and Tink teaming up. And while I think that could be cool, those parts felt a fake and forced. And on the other hand you have this whole concept of grief, a boy being lost, and a broken family trying to find hope and joy after tragedy. Those aspects of it felt much stronger to me and I think it would’ve been a better script overall if it had developed that more instead of shoehorning the other bits in too. But you know me, I’ll read anything related to Peter Pan and this one is definitely going to be on my collection shelf. ✨

[Daniel Tothill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm playing Peter in a production of this and my cast just finished the first readthrough. I was really pleasantly surprised by how funny but also heart warming the play was. Every character gets a chance to shine and all the roles feel very well balanced. The tone also manages to balance a genuine sense of danger with fun, silly comedy. A real treat.

[Liberty Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as charming on a second read! I first read this play months ago when I found out it was the Christmas production at Leeds Playhouse. An interesting reinvention of the classic with a lot more substance and sophisticated themes than usual for a production of Peter Pan.

[Samantha Brattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This incarnation of Peter Pan is fresh and new and puts the female characters front and centre which was nice to see.

[Meriyou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting vision, with contemporary references that at first are confusing but in the end add to the timelessness feeling of Neverland.

[Cara Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful modernisation of the classic tale while never loosing the charm of the original. A fascinating examination of the grief associated with losing a child, and how you never truly forget the person, but over time forget to be sad.

Also, was it just me or was Smee portrayed as queer and in love with Captain Hook. And was that love somewhat mutual.

[Matilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I gave this five stars. I think seeing it acted out really helps bring it to life, especially since, in a production, it's the ensemble pirates with no lines who really make the play worth seeing.

[Emelia Hutchinson]

Although I haven't read the play yet I have seen it... Twice! It is funny, heartwarming and has badass female leads all in all an amazing, original retelling of this classic.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this production at the RSC in Jan 2014 in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Absoulty brilliant made basically the whole audience of all ages cry with the secret...

[Lawrie Bslr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brillant