Billingham Forum – until 4 January 2026
Reviewed by Andrew Bramfitt
4****
Billingham Forum’s festive offering, The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook, is an energetic, good-hearted blast of family fun that grabs its audience from the first burst of fairy dust and doesn’t let go.
Set years after the classic tale, this new adventure finds everyone except Peter Pan all grown up. When Captain Hook resurfaces in Neverland, Tinkerbell (a vibrant Michelle Heaton) sets out to bring Wendy back to help—but instead recruits Wendy’s granddaughter Angela. From that moment, the show rockets forward with colourful chaos, sharp comedy and just the right dose of panto silliness.
Panto newcomer Jessie Williams is the standout of the night. Bursting with charm and confidence, she steals scenes effortlessly and feels like a natural fit for the genre. Ben-Ryan Davies brings playful charm to Peter Pan, and Michelle Heaton’s lively Tinkerbell keeps the story fizzing along.
Connor McIntyre returns as a gleefully menacing Captain Hook—exactly the sort of villain the audience loves to boo. Liam Mellor, as ever, is a whirlwind as Mr Smee. His comic timing is impeccable, and considering he also wrote and directed the show, his fingerprints are everywhere: warm humour, snappy pacing and big-hearted family focus. Robert Squire’s Mrs Hook is outrageous in all the best ways, with costumes that raise laughs the moment they appear (the Baywatch bikini is unforgettable).
The production is slicker than many regional pantos, thanks in no small part to Jen Cassidy’s standout choreography—some of the best this season. Add impressive flying effects, polished sound and music from John Hudson, and you’ve got a show that looks and feels joyfully full.
And the finale? Completely wild—and wonderfully so. Kids and grown-ups alike become part of the action in one of the most interactive endings you’ll see.
Fun, friendly and full of festive sparkle, this panto cements Liam Mellor as one of the region’s leading panto creatives. A brilliant night out for families.
The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan (produced by Derek Cooper for DCC Ltd) runs until January 4th – tickets from https://www.forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk/pantomime/