The smash hit Broadway production, New York Times Critic’s Pick, and winner of 5 Tony Awards®, Peter and the Starcatcher is flying into Australia in 2024 – 2025. The production will make its Australian premiere in October 2024 at Canberra Theatre Centre, ahead of a national tour.
Peter and the Starcatcher is the untold story of Neverland and prequel to Peter Pan. Before Neverland, there was an Island. Before Captain Hook, a pirate. Before Wendy, her mother Molly. Before Peter, a nameless boy.
Originally developed by Disney Theatrical Group and written by renowned stage writer and 4- me Tony Award nominee Rick Elice (Water for Elephants, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), with music by Wayne Barker, this all-new production is directed by Helpmann Award-nominated Australian director and Dead Puppet Society co-founder David Morton (Holding Achilles, The Wider Earth).
With a star-studded ensemble cast including Otis Dhanji from blockbuster Aquaman and Netflix hit The Unlisted as Boy / Peter; two of Australia’s most recognisable comedy faces Colin Lane from duo Lano & Woodley as Black Stache and Peter Helliar as Smee; and television star Olivia Deeble, known for roles on Home and Away, More Than This and Secret Society of Second Born Royals, as Molly.
Also featuring in this Peter Pan prequel story is Alison Whyte (Death of a Salesman, Groundhog Day The Musical, The Dressmaker) as Lord Aster; Paul Capsis (La Cage aux Folles, Head On, The Rocky Horror Show) as Slank and Hawking Clam; Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, In The Heights) as Fighting Prawn; Hugh Parker (The Office, The Family Law) as Captain Sco and Morgan Francis (Boy, Lost) as Prentiss.
Reimagined for Australian audiences, this highly anticipated version of Peter and the Starcatcher blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, traversing oceans of mystical mermaids and lands of curious creatures.
This production is a major coup for international Brisbane-based production and design house Dead Puppet Society, led by Creative Director David Morton and Executive Producer Nicholas Paine who, in an Australian first, has been granted a license by Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International (Australasia) to stage a new version of the Tony Award-winning production. Dead Puppet Society is joined in presenting this production of Peter and the Starcatcher by the London based Glass Half Full Productions, currently with major productions running on both Broadway and the West End; JONES Theatrical Group, the team behind the current Australian tour of Chicago and upcoming Sydney season of Book of Mormon; and Damien Hewitt , co-producer for Girl From The North Country and Liz Kingsman: One Woman Show.
Peter and the Starcatcher is written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. This new Australian production is directed and designed by David Morton with musical direction and additional music by James Dobinson, movement direction by Liesel Zink, lighting design by Ben Hughes, costume design by Anna Cordingley, and sound design by Ma hew Erskine. Completing the production team is casting director Michael Topple, creative producer Nicholas Paine and associate director Ma Seery.
Jump on board this theatrical spectacle bursting with 100 unforgettable characters, live music and technical wizardry, and discover the untold story of Neverland. Peter and The Starcatcher will premiere at Canberra Theatre Centre in October 2024, followed by seasons at Arts Centre Melbourne, Adelaide Festival Centre, Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Hook tickets now! peterandthestarcatcher.com.au
Commissioned and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Group. Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Group. Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre Interna<onal (Australasia).
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
“YOU MUST EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF” New York Times
“AN ABSURDLY FUNNY FANTASTICAL JOURNEY” Entertainment Weekly
“A BLISSFUL EXERCISE IN THE MAKE BELIEVE” New York Times
“A ROLLICKING GOOD TIME” Entertainment Weekly
Peter and the Starcatcher
peterandthestarcatcher.com.au
@peterandthestarcatchertour
Dead Puppet Society
deadpuppetsociety.com.au
@deadpuppetsociety
Canberra – Canberra Theatre Centre From 15 October 2024
Melbourne – Arts Centre Melbourne From 8 November 2024
Adelaide – Adelaide Festival Centre From 9 January 2025
Sydney – Capitol Theatre From 31 January 2025
Brisbane – Queensland Performing Arts Centre From 14 March 2025
