Headlining this year’s cast is Kevin Kennedy as the dastardly baddie – Captain Hook! Kevin is a star of both the stage and screen and is probably best known for the 20 years he spent playing the role of the hapless-but-honest “sex symbol” Curly Watts in Coronation Street. He’s also appeared in Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special, Doctors, Blue Murder and Holby City, as well as in stage roles including Dennis Dupree (Rock of Ages UK Tour) and Pop (We Will Rock You RCCL). You might also remember him as Muddles in The Cresset’s 2017 panto, Snow White – welcome back Kevin!
In the role of Peter Pan himself is another Cresset favourite, James Fletcher! James starred as the titular role in The Cresset’s 2016 production of Peter Pan and we are so excited to have him back for another trip to
Neverland! Having trained at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), James is best known for his role as troubled teen, Dylan Jenkins, in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. Since then he’s also appeared in Bloodyminded (Blast Theory), Giri Haji (BBC/Netflix) and Downton Abbey (ITV) as well as at theatres across the country in a huge variety of productions.
Joining them will be the hugely talented Joseph Chambers as Smee. A high energy actor, presenter and director with a range of talents including unicycling and tightrope walking, Joe has a host of TV and stage credits, the best known probably being his role on Cbeebies’ The Rhyme Rocket as First Officer Ditty. He’s also performed in pantomimes across the country, and is 
the face of Salford University’s online content as well as starring as the main role in Duran Duran’s 2021 music video for the lead track on their 40th anniversary album.
Edward Simpson joins the cast this year as our wonderful Dame, Mrs. Smee! Edward has been lucky enough to play such diverse roles as Celia in As You Like It, Yepikhodov in The Cherry Orchard, and Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore. More recently, he has created the roles of John Dolittle and Henry Clerval in entirely new musical adaptations of The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle and Frankenstein. Plus he’s certainly no stranger to the world of pantomime – nor to wearing frocks and wigs!
Returning to The Cresset stage this Christmas in the role of Wendy is Katie Paine! Katie not only has numerous theatre and recording credits to her name – including We Will Rock You, Seussical, Godspell, Breaking Up
Is Hard To Do and many more – she’s also previously starred as the Fairy Godmother in our 2019 pantomime, Cinderella. Welcome back Katie!
Last but not least is another familiar face we’re delighted to be welcoming back to The Cresset stage – George Dee! Alongside his other panto and theatre credits, George has appeared in a whopping 15 Cresset pantos over the years!
Writer and Director Stuart Morrison has been producing and directing Cresset Pantomimes both alone and with Premier Pantomimes since 2008 and is thrilled to be taking us on another trip to Neverland with this latest production.
We simply can’t wait to bring the magic of pantomime back to the stage this Christmas – we’ll see you in December for an awfully big adventure!
Peter Pan runs at the Cresset Theatre from 15th to 31st December.
Tickets are priced from just £16.00 with fantastic group offers available
Book through the Box Office on 01733 265705 or online here
