Rehearsals for Darlington Hippodrome’s pantomime, Peter Pan, have got off to a flying start this year and The Northern Echo headed down to catch a glimpse of some behind the scenes fun.

The cast of Peter Pan includes; panto legend Christopher Biggins who is playing Mrs Smee, James Hameed as Peter, Tegan Bannister as Tinkerbell, Sheri Lineham as Wendy, and Steve Arnott as Captain Hook.

The team is rehearsing at Centre Stage in Darlington where the town’s beloved Darlington Operatic Society perfects its ever-popular shows.

When we walked into the rehearsal room the cast was practising the final scene of the show. Audiences can certainly expect a high-energy, funny performance with all the classic elements of pantomime with a few modern twists.

The Northern Echo: Rehearsals were full of laughterRehearsals were full of laughter (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Read more: Oh yes he is! Pantomime dame legend Biggins returns to Darlington for Christmas extravaganza

Christopher Biggins told The Northern Echo: “We’re on our third day of rehearsal and we’re all getting on so well which is crucial with this kind of thing. It’s a wonderful company which makes it so much easier. If you have to work with people in this way who you don’t get on with it makes it that much harder. Everything’s great about it so I’m really positive about having a great show.

“The audience keeps us fresh. The audience lifts you as soon as you go on. They’re there to have a ball and they make you have a ball too.

“I was thrilled to be asked to come back to Darlington but I was also nervous because the country is in such a terrible situation with ‘eating or heating’, but then I was told we’d so far taken over £155,000 more than last year so people really want to be here because at the end of the day, people want to have a good laugh.”

The Northern Echo: James Hameed as Peter and Steve Arnott as Captain HookJames Hameed as Peter and Steve Arnott as Captain Hook (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Read more: Full cast revealed as panto legend Christopher Biggins joins Darlington Hippodrome's pantomime

Sheri Lineham, who plays Wendy, said: “We’ve been having so much fun. It is quite high-energy but we just get swept away with it. After the run is over we’ll probably sleep for a month because we’ve all been giving 100%.”

Tegan Bannister, who plays Tinkerbell, said: “I think after the past couple of years people are really ready for some fun after the pandemic and everything. This version of the story is a little bit different so there’s plenty of surprises in store.”

Peter Pan runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Friday, December 9 to Saturday, December 31 and tickets are available via darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/The-Pantomime-Adventures-of-Peter-Pan or by clicking here.

The Northern Echo: Dancers rehearsing Dancers rehearsing (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

The Northern Echo: Tegan Bannister as Tinkerbell and Sheri Lineham as WendyTegan Bannister as Tinkerbell and Sheri Lineham as Wendy (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

The Northern Echo: Dancers rehearsing for Peter Pan in DarlingtonDancers rehearsing for Peter Pan in Darlington (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

The Northern Echo: Christopher Biggins getting into character Christopher Biggins getting into character (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

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