Polka Theatre has cast its two festive shows: a beatboxed Peter Pan from 14 November, and Little Bulb’s Antarctica for the under-sevens from 27 November.
Polka Theatre in Wimbledon has announced casting for its two festive productions. Peter Pan runs in the Y C Chan Theatre from Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 24 January 2027, and Antarctica plays the smaller Adventure Theatre from Friday 27 November to Sunday 17 January. Tickets are on sale.
The Peter Pan is a remixed musical version of J.M. Barrie’s story, with original songs performed live and a cappella by a company of vocalists, beatboxers and rappers. Celeste Denyer plays Pan and Nadine Rose Johnson is Wendy, with Conrad Murray as Hook, Aziza Brown as Tink, Khai Shaw as Smee and one of the Lost Boys, and Alex Hackett completing them. It is recommended for ages 5 to 12.
Murray adapted the show and wrote the music, and co-directs with Ria Parry. Set and costume design is by Liam Bunster, lighting by Simisola Majekodunmi, with Stephan Boyce as choreographer and fight director.
Artistic director Helen Matravers said the aim was a show that is “both magical and which pushes creative boundaries”, adding that it “has every familiar beat of J.M. Barrie’s story, but takes a bold and wonderful leap into a style of storytelling which will capture the biggest imaginations of the youngest audiences”.
Antarctica is a Little Bulb production, first made with Bristol Old Vic, and is aimed at ages 3 to 7. It sends its audience across the ice to meet penguins, albatrosses and whatever lives in the deep, told through clowning and puppetry. The cast is Grace Venus, Joe Boylan and Judy Barrington-Smuts. Alexander Scott directs, with set and costume design by Verity Sadler.
Workshops run alongside both shows: a sensory storytelling session, Winter Wonderland Adventure, on Tuesday 15 December; MiniJam House Party on Thursday 17 December; a Festive Family Sing-Along on Saturday 19 December; and Musical Theatre Remixed, which invites children to rework a classic story, on Monday 21 December.
Polka opened in 1979 as the first UK theatre dedicated entirely to children, and had more than 125,000 visitors last year. It gave away over 9,000 free school tickets through its Curtain Up! scheme and has committed 10,000 more this academic year.
Peter Pan runs at Polka Theatre, Wimbledon from Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 24 January 2027. Antarctica runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027.
