The original text

J.M. Barrie's play (and subsequent novel), tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and has many adventures on the island of Neverland that is inhabited by mermaids, fairies, Native Americans and pirates.

The play made its debut at the Duke of York's Theatre in London on 27 December 1904 featuring Nina Boucicault, daughter of the playwright Dion Boucicault, in the title role. It was done on Broadway in 1905 starring Maude Adams.

Barrie continued to revise the play for years after its first performance until the script was published under the name Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up in 1928.

Translations and adaptations

Since its original production, the story has been adapted as a pantomime, a stage musical, a television special, a live themed ice-skating show in the mid-1970s, and several films, including a 1924 silent film, a 1953 Disney animated film, and a 2003 live action film.

Barrie himself wrote a novel titled Peter and Wendy, telling the same story. This was first published on 18 October 1911 by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and on 21 October in the US by Charles Scribner’s Sons.

A musical based on Barrie's play was first performed in the Winter Garden Theatre, New York on 10 October 1954. Music by Mark Charlap, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. CAPAB Music presented this version at the Nico Malan Theatre opening on 5 December 1981, directed by David Matheson, starring Henry Goodman.

A South African ballet version was staged at the Baxter Theatre by UCT Ballet School in 1978 and 1981.

Performance history in South Africa

1919: Presented by the Leonard Rayne Company at Opera House, Cape Town in July and December, directed by Ralph Kimpton.

1920: Presented by the Leonard Rayne Company at Theatre Royal, Durban in May.

1923: Presented by the Leonard Rayne Company at Standard Theatre, Johannesburg (December - January 1924).

1924: Rayne's production presented again at the Opera House, Cape Town (February - March).

1951: Presented by Children's Theatre in the Wits Great Hall produced by Taubie Kushlick starring Vivienne Drummond (Peter), Merilyn Oates (Wendy), Lionell Critchell (Mr Darling and Captain Hook), Alfred Hoffman (Smee).

1952: Presented in July by Children's Theatre in the University Theatre, directed by Taubie Kushlick, starring Tessa Laubscher in the title role, Maureen Sakalovsky as Wendy, Bruce Anderson (Captain Hook), Vivienne Kopman (Slightly). Decor by John Earle.

1957: Staged by Children's Theatre at the Johannesburg Reps for their Christmas show of 1957 - starring the boyish Evadne Kohler-Baker in the title role, designed and directed by Anthony Farmer. Other members of the cast were Charles Stodel as Smee, John Boulter as Captain Hook, Percy Stein as Nana the dog, Phillippa Adelstein as Liza the maid, Elizabeth Meyer as Wendy Darling and Gertrude Miles as Mrs Darling.

1962: Staged by the Arts Theatre Club at the Guild Theatre, directed and choreographed by Hazel Muller, musical direction by Mavis Woods, music composed by Marge Weyer, set design by Anthony Farmer. With Cecile Cowie (Peter), Pam Emslie (Mrs Darling), Clive Shaw, Ross Muller, Chrstine Fletcher, Noel Gurney, Jenny Wren, Lorna Paterson, Charles Landsdowne, John Lord, Stephen Gurney, Peter Chapman, Basil Haddad, John Fletcher, Stella Stakemire, Mike Johnson, Norman Stanton, Silvan Affolter, Bush Krohn, Phillip Wagner, Anthony Snow, Nick West, Glen Lowman, David Rees, Harry Lord, David Cowell, Brian White.

1967: Presented by CAPAB, opening 19 December 1967, directed by Victor Melleney starring Reinet Maasdorp as Peter Pan and a large cast including Frank Shelley, Gillian Garlick, Yvonne Bryceland and many others. Sets and costumes designed by Keith Anderson.

1970: Presented by NAPAC Drama at the Alhambra Theatre, Durban, directed by Frank Shelley, from 4 December 1970.

1972: Presented by the Arts Theatre Club at the Guild Theatre, directed and choreographed by Hazel Tennant, musical direction by Mavis Woods. With music and lyrics by Mavis Woods and Marge Furber (8-23 December 1972). With Janet Connor (Peter Pan), Nick West (Captain Hook), Grahame Archer, David Oertel, Mary Kockott, Janet Krohn, Stuart Dicks, Jenny Wren, Denise Archer, Harold Horwitz, Nick Maartens, Douglas Vale, Gregory Holbrook, Richard Cragg, Tweedy Kleb, Garth Gray-Browne, Marlene Flint, Erik Kleb, Ian Paterson, Alistair Swanson-Gray, Ian Jamie, Mark Hansen, Alan Vale, George Mountjoy.

1972: Presented in Port Alfred, directed by Cicely Langston.

1976: Presented by Pretoria Theatre for Children at the Piet van der Walt Theatre, directed by Douglas Thistlewhite.

1977: Presented by NAPAC at the Alhambra Theatre, directed by Anthony Sharp.

1979: Presented by PEMADS at the Port Elizabeth Opera House, directed and choreographed by Hazel Tennant.

1993: Presented by the Arts Theatre Club at the Arts Theatre, directed by George Mountjoy.

2026: A musical version created and directed by Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer performed at the Canal Walk shopping mall in Cape Town in July, with a cast that included Killian Blerk, Rachael Saunders, Jeremy Richard, Jayde Tayla, Tim Truran, Andi Colombo, Anzio September, Asanda Mngadi, Jonan Mouton, Evan Marikanos and Kaira Naidoo.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_(play_and_novel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._M._Barrie

Trek, 15(1):42, 1951.

Helikon, 1(6):76-77, 1952.

Phorographs of the cast of the 1957 production held by NELM: Shelved with photographs [Collection: FARMER, Anthony]: 2007. 18. 11. 2. 37. 5.

Peter Pan theatre programme, 1967.

Theatre programme held by NELM (NAPAC 1970): [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 26. 19.

Peter Pan (Musical) theatre programme, 1981.

Arts Theatre Club archive held by George Mountjoy.

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

Rafiek Mammon. 2026. " 'Peter Pan'-opvoering laat verbeelding galop" (review), Die Burger, 2 July: p.8.

Go to ESAT Bibliography