“ALL YOU NEED IS FAITH, TRUST AND A LITTLE BIT OF PIXIE DUST”
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PUBLICITY PHOTOS
PUBLICITY VIDEO
© Signature Times Photography
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
“Definitely one of the best I have ever seen. ❤️”
“It was AMAZING my favourite performance to date. Well done to you & the rest of the cast. Was better than half of the professional pantos.”
“Well done the entire cast at Dryburn, strength in depth so all the scenes were really enjoyable. Not often the case in amateur panto - really well done. Dance scenes were lively and technical side was great, could hear everything and the lighting was bright and lively. Costumes looked good and the scene changes were quick and quiet. Great job all round.”
“Was a blast watching all you guys on stage! Exellent show as always!”
“What a OUTSTANDING performance on Friday night, so lively well preformed and funny, well done to everyone in Dryburn Theatrical Workshop from front of house to backstage and well done TOM Whalley for writing such and outstanding pantomime. We all had a really fantastic night . Well done to everyone and thank you for giving me my family and friends such a wonderful evening we can't wait for Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat in June.”
“Absolutely loved it! Still laughing thinking back to it! 😂”
“Best show yet!! 😍”
“Congratulations to all of you on such an amazing show week! You could tell just how much fun you were having on stage and I'm glad all your hard work paid off. To echo what Michelle said, at points it really was like watching a professional production. Huge well done from me.”
“I saw the panto yesterday and thought it was excellent. I particularly enjoyed Hook and Mrs Starkey. If Barry from Stanley wasn’t a plant he was a great sport. A whole lot of fun thanks.”
“That was great! Cracking night out - when's the next one? We'll definitely come up again (from Manchester).”
“Brilliant show laughter from start to finish roll on the next one.”
“Peter Pan was spectacular, we have been to a lot of Panto’s over the year and it was by far one of the best, and that includes all the professional productions. It was hilarious and kept everyone entertained throughout. Actors were all perfectly cast and you could tell how much practice everyone put in. The dancing was amazing and refreshing to see different moves for each dance, not just the same dance to different music. Really good show and everyone should be proud of themselves.”
“Hilarious time at the Dryburn Panto! Well done to all! Peter nearly got up to do a bow with you all. Side splitting writing as always from our lovely Tom Whalley.”
“Loved every minute.... Tinker Bell had our 3 year old enthralled from the start ..... so well written and performed .... Hook was excellent .....just bad enough without being scarey. We loved Peter Pan too. Everyone did great..... but have to say Nicholas Cunliffe as Michael Darling stole the show ...... hoping to see some recognition in the Noda awards for this show.”
“It was brilliant. We all thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon with you all! Awesome!!!”
“It was a brilliant show, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done all.”
“Fantastic performance by all the cast. Well worth going to see. Been going there for years now with our grandchildren.”
“Fantastic show! I laughed and laughed. Highly recommended 😄”
“It truly was amazing.”
“Absolutely brilliant cannot wait for the next one. Well Done everyone.”
“What a wonderful show! Each and every member of the cast and crew should be so so proud.”
“Fantastic night last night, full of fun and laughs Well done everyone.”
“Amazing performance, absolutely loved it. 🤩”
“Great show. Well done to the cast and crew. Kids had a great night. Definitely be back next year.”
“I loved it! Will definitely be at future shows by DTW! Brilliant night out!”
“Loved it so much. You're all wonderful. Thanks and see yall at the next one!”
“Really enjoyed it. Better than some London pantos I've seen!”
PROGRAMME
NODA AWARDS
WE WERE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO WIN ‘BEST PANTOMIME’ FOR OUR PRODUCTION OF 'PETER PAN' AT THE NODA NORTH AWARDS 2023.
NODA North Regional Representative, Helen Abraham, said, "What a pantomime, with superb performances, bright songs, a fabulous script, digital backdrops and incredibly engaging for the audience who loved it”, while NODA North Regional Councillor said “Dryburn Theatrical Workshop always delivers a first-class pantomime equally to those performed professionally and Peter Pan was no different with a host of colourful characters and eye-catching scenery.”
NODA REPORT
It’s always the best of welcomes at Dryburn Theatrical workshop where I was please to cover for fellow rep Michelle Coulson who had directed their 2023 pantomime “Peter Pan”. As always, the boat was well and truly pushed out by Dryburn. This pantomime really was on another level and utterly superb.
The welcome at Dryburn is always second to none, with cups of coffee and haribo never far away – a route right to my heart!
First mention is to the staging and technical elements. Lighting and sound by Martin Warden and Craig Holt of Hi-Lights Theatre Service was excellent, especially with the creation of the “shadow” for Peter Pan to rescue from the Darlings window. The cloths from Border studios were great, the props from Lawrence Clark and costuming by Jacqueline Dubre were all extremely good. The animation flying sequence however was something else, animatedprojections.com supplied the digital backdrops and honestly they were worthy of a professional stage. There was also clever use of UV lighting for the under the sea sequence.
The script was one written by Tom Whalley and like all of his work, was very clever with relevant jokes and puns, clever use of the stage and easily adaptable to the amateur stagte.
Casting was very well put together with Claire Archer bringing us Peter Pan the boy who never grows up. Tinkerbell was played by Alison Beveridge had excellent timing and gave the audiences just the right level of mischief and cantankerous behaviour. The Darling children were played by Emma Coulson as Wendy, Katherine Donald as John and Nicholas Cunliffe as Michael. Nicholas absolutely stole the show I have to say, what a talented adorable little boy to see on stage! I loved his fight sequence with Smee, absolutely hilarious. I loved the portrayal of Nana the dog by Emma Bell too, the bum wiggles were brilliant!
Smee played by Joe Coulson just seems to get better every year. His timing is impeccable and he plays the funny character role absolutely to a T. I can’t think of anyone else regionally who does it better. Together with Lee Passmore playing the traditional dame character, Lady Starkey, they were a pair indeed and had the audience in fits of giggles. The utensils number was especially hilarious as well as the “Witch Doctor” with Captain Hook played by Phil Stabler incredibly well.
The ensemble numbers were bright and engaging and well done to Rebecca Scott for the choreography. All well-rehearsed, appropriate for the cast ability and very well delivered. The pirates ensemble were especially funny, really enjoyed them on stage and also the “Revolting children” number which had the audience tapping away and “Wigwhambam” which was excellent. The Lost Boys were excellent, full of character and fun on stage played by Erin Boyle, Chris Coates, Frances Wood, Phil Martin, Andy Smith, Laura Masters and Jessica Kerridge as Tiger Lily.
A special mention has to go to that crocodile – my word. It’s the character I’ve wondered how they’d portray given then difficulties on stage and my word the audience were howling with laughter at Max Weatherhead in the giant crocodile costume flying around the stage giving poor Captain Hook played by Phil Stabler a hard time. Loved it!
The Sea Shanty was also an absolute riot with foam, water, buns and goodness knows what else flying around the stage in a great combination of humour and utter chaos.
All in all a really engaging incredible evening’s entertainment. I‘m usually not the biggest fan of pantomimes but I loved this one….oh yes I did!
Author: Helen Abraham