TuckShop's Peter Pan, Phoenix Theatre review
If panto wasn’t camp enough this drag show version of Peter Pan showing at The Phoenix Theatre is next level and is very much adult only and not for the feint hearted. TuckShop’s Peter Pan pantomime is from Christopher Clegg the creator of Death Drop, Cool Rider, Gals Aloud and written by Gareth Joyner (A Christmas Carole, Dick Whittington).
Billed as an ‘All Drag Panto’, with strong language and a 16 plus age limit, the show is definitely for adults who cantolerate increased levels of swearing and sexual references. Bearing this in mind they acknowledge from the stage and in the programme that the title has been licensed and presented with the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity, humorously insinuating the children’s charity may not know what they have gotten themselves into and to keep it between us.
Ophelia Love & Richard Energy in Peter Pan.
This is not a big budget show but doesn’t feel like it needs to be. The set simply consisted of five free standing painted boards with mounted props which could be spun round to create a new back drop. They probably worked under certain restrictions as the theatre also stages Stranger Things most evenings.The stars mostly made their names on RuPaul’s Drag Race on TV and on the club circuit around the UK, including Drag Race UK Winner Ginger Johnson as Hook. Hook’s hat was grandly over the top.
The first half of the show was not as engaging as the second half which wasn’t helped by sound issues. Those sat in thecircle seats struggled to understand the first flurry of gags. At one point the sound dropped out completely during a monologue which was glossed over where perhaps a bit of comic acknowledgement would have been welcomed.
Little remains of the classic storyline except the presence of the key characters and occasional references to places and events in the Peter Pan tale. This version goes here, there and everywhere with a pivot to the reality TV series “The Traitors” in the second half. The cast must have been reenacting a viral scene as the audience joined in word for word with the performers. For those that are not hard-core fans of the The Traitors just had to sit the scene out, similarly with references to Come Dine with Me and Drag Race. From the sound of the boisterous laughing audience there were many groups of like-minded friends in the audience for whom the show seemed to be on point.
Mahatma Khandi and Ensemble in Peter Pan.
The ensemble of three dancers (Cameron Everett, Zach Parkin and Theo Simpson) smashed it with near perfect dance skills and fun choreography with a lot of grinding and rolling around on the floor which fit the tone of the play to a tee. The sheer fitness level and skill needed to dance in their mermaid tails for one number was exceptional. I am still in awe.
Kitty Scott-Claus’ performance as Wendy Darling was the most disciplined performance as she stays demure and in character throughout with the most insanely posh accent you will ever hear. The pop music numbers are fun, with Scott-Claus and the ensemble singing Kesha’s Joyride as a raunchy bedtime story.
Yshee Black and Ginger Johnson in Peter Pan.
Ginger Johnson as Captain Hook delivers a take on Chappell Roan’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl to start the second act. Peter Pan (played by Drag King Richard Energy) is randy but reminds the audience on the regular to not forget to “ask for consent.”
The highlight came from original, repetitive songs with altered lyrics (like Twelve days of Christmas) that gradually speed up and create chaos on stage among the cast. No one seemed to know what was happening—but that unpredictability was exactly what made it so much fun!
Overall, the show has a slap dash nature and is perhaps a little under rehearsed so do not expect a highly polished performance, but their core audience’s enthusiasm is contagious and they seem to have gotten the raucous absurdevening they were after. I asked my neighbouring audience member what he thought. He said it “could’ve been better” and I have to say I tend to agree.
Date: Until 6 January 2025. Location: The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JP. Price: From £25. Book now. (16+ only).
Review by Natascha Milsom
