Following a sensational premiere season at Canberra Theatre Centre, the hilarious swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan, Peter and the Starcatcher flies into Arts Centre Melbourne with a star-studded ensemble cast.
The smash hit Broadway production, New York Times Critic’s Pick, and winner of 5 Tony Awards®, Peter and the Starcatcher has been reimagined for Australian audiences, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, traversing oceans of mystical mermaids and lands of curious creatures.
Before Neverland, there was an island. Before Captain Hook, a pirate. Before Wendy, her mother Molly. Before Peter Pan, a nameless Boy. This production is a visual spectacle bursting with 100 unforgettable characters, live music, technical wizardry, and over 90 puppets of all shapes and sizes.
Escape to the fantastical world you never knew existed before Neverland, featuring some of Australia’s most famous theatre, television, and comedy faces including Pete Helliar, Colin Lane, Alison Whyte, Paul Capsis and Olivia Deeble.
Originally developed by Disney Theatrical Group and written by renowned stage writer and 4-time Tony Award nominee Rick Elice (Water for Elephants, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), with music by Wayne Barker, this all-new production is directed by Helpmann Award-nominated Australian director and Dead Puppet Society co-founder David Morton (Holding Achilles, The Wider Earth).
The stellar cast includes Otis Dhanji from blockbuster Aquaman and Netflix hit The Unlisted as Boy / Peter; two of Australia’s most recognisable comedy names Colin Lane from duo Lano & Woodley as Black Stache and Pete Helliar as Smee; along with television star Olivia Deeble, known for roles on Home and Away, More Than This and Secret Society of Second Born Royals, as Molly.
Also featured is Alison Whyte (Death of a Salesman, Groundhog Day The Musical, The Dressmaker) as Lord Aster; Paul Capsis (La Cage aux Folles, Head On, The Rocky Horror Show) as Slank and Hawking Clam; and Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, In The Heights) as Fighting Prawn.
Hugh Parker (The Office, The Family Law) as Captain Scott; Lucy Goleby (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Mrs Bumbrake; John Batchelor (Sea Patrol, Red Dog) as Alf / Teacher; Morgan Francis (Boy, Lost) as Prentiss and Benjin Maza (Stradbroke Dreamtime, Othello) as Ted.
Peter and the Starcatcher is written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. This new Australian production is directed and designed by David Morton with musical direction and additional music by James Dobinson, movement direction by Liesel Zink, lighting design by Ben Hughes, costume design by Anna Cordingley, and sound design by Matthew Erskine. Completing the production team is casting director Michael Topple, creative producer Nicholas Paine and associate director Matt Seery.
This production is a major coup for international Brisbane-based production and design house Dead Puppet Society, led by Creative Director David Morton and Executive Producer Nicholas Paine, who in an Australian first, were granted a license by Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International (Australasia) to stage a new version of the Tony Award-winning production.
An adventurous tale of friendship for all generations, a spectacular masterpiece that will hook you from the moment you let your imagination take flight.
Following its 3-week run at Arts Centre Melbourne, Peter and the Starcatcher will continue its magic with seasons at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). For more information, visit: www.peterandthestarcatcher.com.au for details. Book Melbourne tickets here!
Images: Otis Dhanji in Peter and the Starcatcher – photo by Daniel Boud | The Australian Cast of Peter and the Starcatcher – photo by Daniel Boud