Peter and the Starcatcher is a whimsical, adventure-filled play that explores themes of identity, friendship, and the power of imagination, while also setting the stage for the classic Peter Pan tale.
Commisioned and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Group, this swashbuckling tale has been brought to Australian shores after receiving 5 Tony Awards from it’s time on Broadway.
If that isn’t enough to come see the show, here is everything you need to know about the production...
The plot (in summary):
Act One:
Lord Leonard Aster is transporting a trunk of magical starstuff to Rundoon on his ship The Wasp, but pirate captain Black Stache captures Aster, thinking he has the trunk. Little does he know, the trunk has been switched out by Bill Slank, captain of a ship called The Neverland.
On the Neverland, Aster’s daughter Molly befriends Peter (an orphan boy), Ted, and Prentiss. After a series of events, Peter is given his name, the Neverland is wrecked, and the survivors—including Peter with the trunk of starstuff, Molly, and the orphans—end up on a mysterious island, while Stache plots to capture them and the starstuff.
Act Two:
On the island, the orphans are captured by the Mollusks, but Molly saves them using the starstuff. Peter learns from a mermaid that starstuff can transform him, and he adopts the name "Pan."
Stache lures Peter and the orphans into a trap, but Peter trades the starstuff trunk for Molly’s safety. After learning the starstuff has dissolved in the water, Stache accidentally loses his hand and flees.
The orphans are welcomed by the Asters, but Peter, affected by the starstuff, can't leave with them. He stays on the island with the orphans and names the island Neverland, and after saying goodbye to Molly, Peter takes flight, beginning his journey as the boy who never grows up.
The Characters
Peter and the Starcatcher features a diverse cast of characters. At the heart of the story is Peter, a brave, competitive orphan who longs for a home and family, and Molly Aster, a fearless 13-year-old leader devoted to her father and the cause of the Starcatchers.
Prentiss, older and ambitious, dreams of leadership but knows he will never be the one in charge, while Ted (aka "Tubby") is a talented actor hungry for companionship.
The British subjects include Lord Leonard Aster, the model Victorian gentleman, and Mrs. Bumbrake, Molly's no-nonsense but fun-loving nanny. The pirates are led by the self-absorbed Black Stache, with his loyal first mate Smee and the confused Spanish pirate Sanchez.
On the Neverland, the cruel Bill Slank commands a dismal crew, including the aging sailor Alf and the disgruntled Mack. The Mollusks, led by the vengeful Fighting Prawn, and the wise Teacher, a former salmon turned mermaid, add magical elements to the story.
Together, these characters bring Peter and the Starcatcher to life, blending adventure, humor, and heart.
The Puppets
This show features signature Dead Puppet Society creatures interwoven into the story, bringing an innovative mix of puppet design and use of technology to the work.
From the starstuff butterflies to the crocodile, all the puppets and props you see on stage have been designed and crafted in Brisbane by a team of 16 fabricators and makers to bring the magic of Neverland to life.
The Star-Studded Cast
Last, but certainly not least, the fabulous cast are true storytellers and tie everything together along the journey of the show. You can spot such faces as Pete Helliar as Smee, Colin Lane as Black Stache, Paul Capsis as Slank/Hawking Clam, Olivia Deeble as Molly and so much more!
Don't miss Peter and the Starcatcher
Showing at Dunstan Playhouse from 9 - 25 January 2025.