When I approached the Cumnor Players committee in January with the idea of Neverland there was

some reluctance in repeating a pantomime story as they had already performed Peter Pan in 2008.

“But” I cried “that was 16 years ago and this will be different. A subversive Peter Pan with different

villains and heroes, love stories and comedy pieces. I’ll even throw the Cha Cha Slide in!”

Once I had the green light I wrote a very detailed synopsis. So detailed that it felt rather patronising

to ask anyone else to write something so prescribed. So I wrote it. Which was really hard. I spent

most of the time thinking I was appallingly unfunny and googling fairy jokes. After many cuts and

rewrites we had a script.

Then we auditioned. So many talented, funny and imaginative people brought their ideas and

energy to the room that we had a really hard job casting the show, and a heart-breaking job saying

no to some wonderfully brilliant actors whom I hope will keep auditioning.

In September the whole Panto family for this year finally came together. It has been a mad few

months bringing together acting, singing, dance choreography, fight choreography, a chase, a

crocodile and much much silliness. Finding out what works and what doesn’t, what’s funny and

what’s absolutely not. As writer and director, it has been an enormous privilege and pleasure to

support this amazing cast in bringing to life the words and the characters.

There is such joy in actors suggesting alternate (and better) script ideas. The costume sketches

which I cannot wait to see in reality, I mean Tinkerbell as a dragon fly? Brilliant! The set design

which is, as ever, utterly over-ambitious and impossible, yet I know the amazing construction team

will pull it off. The music arrangements in different keys for different voices, and how to make a

band of four sound like an orchestra, especially when you have a director who says “I’ve had this

idea of a mash-up between Take That and Simple Minds and I really think it will work……”

Why should you come and see it? Well, I believe this is village community at it’s best. Those

involved range for 10 years old to those in their 60’s, full of diversity in all forms, and everyone is

treated absolutely equally, everyone’s voice is equally valid and important. Then there’s magic,

sweets, pirates, a dog, flying (must get on to rehearsing the flying), fairy dust, a ship that flies (must

must rehearse flying ship) oh and did I mention a dog?

Bring your mates, bring your wallets, and most of all bring yourselves, your laughter and your voices.

Come and join your village for a wonderful evening of storytelling, singing and community.

Clare Denton, Director of Neverland

Neverland programme