Earlier this month, the News Shopper asked its younger readers if they wanted to be a theatre reviewer for a night and many did. This week the winners of our competition tell us what they thought about the seven biggest pantos in the area this year and there's no holds barred!

Leela Homewood writes about Peter Pan at the Churchill Theatre

On Friday December 14, I saw Peter Pan at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley. It was brilliant.

Julie Buckfield played Peter Pan and she was very good. She sang a lot of songs very well. Wendy was played by Lucy Morgans and I think she was one of the best characters because her singing voice was really nice and she was pretty.

Peter Pan's enemy, Captain Hook, was played by Paul Nicholas. He was nasty and everyone hated him. He had four pirates, played by the Acromaniacs, who were really funny.

The Indians were excellent dancers and they were led by Natasha Jayetileke as Tiger Lily. I think the funniest character is Smee, Kim Smith, because he copied nearly everything Captain Hook did and when the Captain told Smee to get the plank it was really funny. He kept swinging it round and knocking over the pirates.

The scenery was very well made and colourful. The pirate ship had a big skull on it and was very realistic. Peter Pan flew on wires around the stage and over the audience and threw fairy dust all over everyone.

In Act Two, the lost boys gave the audience big square sponges to throw at Captain Hook in the fight and it was great fun.

Then Captain Hook is finally eaten by the crocodile, which was really good and funny, even though you did not see him get eaten.

The Churchill theatre is very nice and the seats are comfortable. I sat near the front but there were seats in a balcony upstairs and I went up to see what it was like. It was really high and a long way from the stage.

After the pantomime had finished, I was allowed backstage to see the scenery and it was really exciting. My little brother sat on the windowsill Peter Pan flies through to get into Wendy's bedroom and Neil White, the company stage manager, gave him some magic fairy dust to take home.

Then we went to meet Julie Buckfield in her dressing room and she was really nice and pretty. I asked her how she remembers her lines and found out they only rehearse for five days and then perform for three days.

All I can say is that you must see Peter Pan at Bromley, because it will be the best choice you ever made.

Peter Pan, until January 20, 020 8460 6677.

December 21, 2001 16:00