Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024: Peter Pan review

Name: Peter pan panto 2024
Brand: The King's Theatre, Glasgow
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Updated: Dec 8

Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024 cast, Peter Pan. Photo credit: Danny Kaan

Peter Pan | The King's Theatre, Glasgow Pantomime 2024

Written by Alan McHugh

Additional Material from Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac

Directed by Kathryn Rooney

The King's Theatre, Glasgow | 28 November 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This year marks the 60th year of panto at Glasgow King's Theatre and they've pulled out all the stops to ensure that the 2024 Christmas pantomime, Peter Pan, is one to remember. Produced by Crossroads pantomimes, it has all the sparkle and pizzazz you would expect, but with more than a touch of Glaswegian humour thanks to creative contributions from local legends Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac.

Johnny Mac and Hannah Jarrett Scott in the Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024 cast, Peter Pan. Photo credit: Danny Kaan

The atmosphere in the Glasgow King's at panto time is electric and this year even more so. There is lots of audience interaction, and you can't help but get carried away with the infectious energy and excitement. This is a panto and a cast that reach far beyond the confines of the traditional stage. It's personal, warm and inclusive - the superb cast feed off the energy of the lively crowd and it all works together to make panto magic.

The King's panto this year is on the more chaotic side of pantomime performances. The eager cast constantly play jokes on one another, taunt the audience and generally cause anarchy on stage. Grant Walsh and his incredible live band deserve a medal for keeping up with them! But it's these hilarious moments of authentic good-natured fun that elevate the King's panto above your normal panto fare. The talent of the supporting performers who try to continue to deliver a script amidst such pandemonium is admirable, and the audience lap it up. It's truly what makes the Glasgow King's panto great: the high-jinks, spirit and playfulness of both the King's cast and audience is unparalleled.

As with most pantos, the actual story based on J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan takes a back seat here. But it acts as a useful vehicle to introduce colourful scenes with pirates, mermaids and crocodiles. There is a fabulous crocodile prop that I won't spoil any further, but I do wish it had featured more than once.

The supporting cast of fantastic professional dancers are adorned in stunning costumes by Mike Coltman. And gymnastic group The Acromaniacs complement them as tumbling, leaping pirates. Sometimes 'feature' acts don't blend well with the core panto cast and storyline, but the inclusion of the gymnasts works well here.

Elaine C Smith and the Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024 cast, Peter Pan. Photo credit: Danny Kaan

The first 10 - 15 minutes of Peter Pan at the King's this year is exceptional - do not be late to your seat! You do not want to miss the opening scenes. This panto escalates from zero to 100 in a heartbeat, and it's such a welcome, vigorous and refreshing introduction to a stage story. With a sprinkle of fairy dust and in the blink of an eye we travel from the Darling's home to Neverland. You have no choice but to be enthralled.

Providing the fairy sparkle this year, the divine Darren Brownlie proves yet again that he deserves to be front and centre of every stage. He's the perfect, poised, enchanting Tinkerbell and I'm delighted he's now a recurring regular in the King's panto.

Darren Brownlie in the Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024 cast, Peter Pan. Photo credit: Danny Kaan

Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac, despite playing the lead roles in the King's panto for years, look like they're having a ball and their material is (for the most part) original and exhiliatring. A scene featuring the flags of the world in act 1 is a comedy masterclass. But their tongue-twister scene ran just a tad too long, and for a show that boasts lots of clever, current references and musical choices, the inclusion of 'Baby Shark' - which was a hit in 2016 - feels tired and out of place.

Elaine C Smith proves again that she's not only a first-rate comic actor but shows off her vocal talents in an inspired version of Beyonce's Texas Hold 'em - the musical highlight of the show. It's also Elaine who this year steps up for the traditional act 1 closing spectacle, and she is absolutely fearless.

Johnny Mac is exceptional. Despite playing the same character year after year - that character is Johnny Mac - his energy and pure joy is timeless. Always the favourite with the kids (and probably most of the adults), Mac is remarkably good at playing the panto fool. His comic timing, improvisation and general gleeful aura are fabulous. When you're as awesome as Johnny Mac, why be anything else.

Johnny Mac in the Glasgow King's Theatre panto 2024 cast, Peter Pan. Photo credit: Danny Kaan

The big ensemble music and dance numbers are always a highlight of pantomime for me and Jane McMurtrie's choreography in this years show is fantastic. After the lively opening scenes though, there felt like too much of a gap until we were treated to another dance spectacular. Panto is of course a fine balance between a variety of entertainment mediums, but I would have liked to have seen the comedy broken up with just one more dance / musical routine in act 1.

I am of course being overly picky. Peter Pan at the Glasgow King's Theatre is excellent. It's a whirlwind of sparkling entertainment and a show that's bound to leave the whole family crying with laughter and bouncing out of the theatre. A fitting tribute to the 60 years of pantos and panto icons that have come before.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Peter Pan is at Glasgow King's Theatre now until Sunday 5 January 2025. See full dates & ticket details here.

MORE: Find more panto reviews like this on Lisa in the Theatre here

MORE: What other pantos are on in Scotland this year? Check out my panto guides here