It’s back, it’s brilliant, it’s magical, it’s panto, it’s the best, always. Panto in The Grand Opera House is always a festive highlight and this year it’s Peter Pan.
The legendary May McFettridge is a treasure and probably irreplaceable, long live May! This year it’s May Smee and her co stars Starkey (Paddy Jenkins), Smee (Adam C Booth), Captain Hook (Jolene O’Hara), Wendy (Aisling Sharkey), Peter Pan (Jordan Walker) and Tink (Georgia Brierley-Smith).
May leads the way with some of the best costumes I’ve ever seen our local legend wear since she arrived at the Opera House in 1990.
Jolene O’Hara is superb as Captain Hook, and we all booed her every time she appeared, it has to be done. But what a voice and a great addition to the Panto cast.
As you’d expect the show is packed with enough banter to keep everyone entertained from fart jokes for the kids to more adult humour. If you’re sitting in the front few rows you better brace yourself for May’s craic. No matter where you are from May has something to say about it. From the Falls to Dublin, from Donaghadee to Armagh you better be ready. And if you’re in a box.. you’ll be part of the show. My best advice is to go with it and enjoy the moment.
As always with a panto, the plot is thin, actually is there even a plot, but who even cares, because you’re there for the laughs. I don’t know what it was about this year for me, but during May’s finale farewells I felt a little emotional. Maybe it’s the passing of time and the big community of panto devotees that go for a fun Christmas night out.
No doubt if you’ve already seen this years show you’ll probably have bought tickets for panto in 2025…. And would you dare to get tickets for a box or front row? Oh yes you should.
Peter Pan runs until 12 Jan 2025.
Next year’s The Adventures of Pinocchio begins on Sat 29 Nov 2025 - Sun 11 Jan 2026.
More details at https://www.goh.co.uk
