Peter Pan

There’s a continuing obsession with youth and vitality, and a fear of growing old. And no story springs to mind more with those themes than Peter Pan. The timeless tale has been given the Scottish treatment with an adaptation by David Greig placing J.M. Barrie’s characters in a Victorian Edinburgh.

Set against a staggering backdrop of a mid-completion Forth Railway Bridge, the classic tells the tale of the Darling family from Scotland; Mr Darling (Cal MacAninch) as patriarch and bridge engineer, Mrs Darling (Annie Grace) lovingly crooning traditional gaelic lullabies to Wendy (Kirsty Mackay), Michael (Tom Gillies) and John (Roddy Cairns). That is, before mischievous rogue Peter Pan (Kevin Guthrie) whisks them off to Neverland saving them the plight of adulthood.

Yet, this National Theatre of Scotland production directed by John Tiffany (of Black Watch notoriety) has a darker edge than traditionally displayed. The idea of death, bitterness and anger resonates through Guthrie’s portrayal of Pan, who at times callously forbids Wendy from any kind of physical or emotional connection as she tenderly struggles to accept impending womanhood around eternally immature boys. At first, hearing Barrie’s story through Scottish colloquialisms and song seems unusual: yet by the final scene, it’s hard to imagine how it was any other way. With an imposing design by Laura Hopkins, music composition and direction by Davey Anderson – both which fitted seamlessly together – it is clear this is a slick and ensemble cast which holds more than a few tricks up its sleeve. With dark themes however, it is not likely to bring out the inner child in us all.