The Ambassador Theatre Group: Press: Press Releases
Press Releases
Issued : 18 November 2004
A host of stars are celebrating 100 years of Peter Pan this December in a series of events to mark the centenary of The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.
Neverland Revisited takes place on Saturday 18th December from 11am – 1pm at the Duke of York’s Theatre on St Martin’s Lane, the venue where JM Barrie’s creation took his very first flight.
Sheila Hancock will host the event which will feature personal appearances by some of the distinguished actors and actresses who have played Peter Pan and Captain Hook in London, including Susan Hampshire, Stephen Moore, Julia Lockwood, Ron Moody, John McCallum (accompanied by his wife, Googie Withers), Janette Scott, Donald Sinden and Wendy Craig.
There will also be a presentation on the origins of the play by Catherine Haill (Theatre Museum curator and author of the book, Dear Peter Pan); an introduction to the first production of the play by Stephen Reynolds (Box Office Manager, Duke of York’s Theatre) and a rehearsed reading of JM Barrie’s short sequel to the play, only ever staged once before in 1908, presented by Unicorn Theatre for children.
This event is FREE and admission is by ticket only. Children are welcome to attend, but no children under the age of 5 can be admitted into the auditorium. To order your free tickets, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Box Office Manager, Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, LONDON WC2 4BG.
In addition to Neverland Revisted, the Theatre Museum on Russell Street is hosting a number of events from the end of November. Peter Pan: 100 years old and still flying will be a display in the main foyer, to include the costume worn by Pauline Chase, one of the first actresses to play Peter and an Edwardian flying harness which helped create the flying effect. The display runs from Tuesday 30th November until the end of March. There will also be interactive costume workshops, story-telling and creative activities, where participants can explore the myth of Peter Pan. All these events are FREE and suitable for children of all ages. For admission times and further details, visit www.theatremuseum.org.uk
These collaborative events have been initiated by Action for Children’s Arts (ACA), a national membership organisation dedicated to the development and celebration of all creative and performing arts both for and with children. The Peter Pan Centenary Celebrations have been funded with generous sponsorship from the Ambassador Theatre Group (an active member of ACA), the Mackintosh Foundation and W2 Productions. For more information, visit www.childrensarts.org.uk
David Wood, Children’s playwright and Chair, Action for Children’s Arts:
“We are gratefully paying tribute to Peter Pan, a beacon in the history of children’s arts, still shining brightly 100 years on.”
Julia Potts, Education and Outreach Manager, Ambassador Theatre Group:
“The Ambassador Theatre Group is delighted to be working with ACA to produce this important commemoration, which marks such a significant event in the history of theatre for children. As the first performance was held at one of our key London theatres, the Duke of York’s, in 1904 it is absolutely right that we should help celebrate this much loved character in the space in which he first took flight. ”
ENDS
For more information, please contact the following:
Ambassador Theatre Group – Press Officer: John Chittenden
Tel: 020 8545 7919. Email: johnchittenden@theambassadors.com