Andrew Pollard and Anthony Spargo to Return to Greenwich for PETER PAN: A NEW ADVENTURE

Booing at this year's pantomime at Greenwich Theatre will reach new levels with the return of everyone's favourite villain Anthony Spargo as Captain Hook in Peter Pan: A New Adventure.

Anthony will be remembered and still loudly hissed for his dastardly portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood and as the cruel and calculating Count Fracula in Red Riding Hood.

"We're so excited to see Anthony back with us to play Captain Hook - it's something I've hoped to see for years," said James Haddrell, the theatre's artistic and executive director. "He's made for the role - Anthony's the perfect villain."

Andrew Pollard is once again lined up to write and direct Peter Pan: A New Adventure, and when he takes on the role of dame for the eleventh year he and Anthony will be surrounded by a cast of ultra-talented newcomers with the overall emphasis very much on quality musical theatre.

"We're welcoming Rory Maguire, who has just finished a tour of Shrek the Musical, to play Peter Pan, and Krystal Dockery - who made her debut as Cinderella at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith - joins us as a very unusual Tinkerbell, which people can certainly look forward to.

"Wendy is played by Louise Young from Mamma Mia and James-Paul McAllister, who has been touring the UK with Priscilla Queen of the Desert, will crop up in a host of under-the-sea roles."

Captain Hook's slimy sidekick Smee is played by Sackie Osakonor. "Sackie has been in a host of shows including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," said James. "He's also a taekwondo black belt so Peter Pan will have to be on his toes.

"This cast shows the continually strong focus on musical theatre quality. More and more actors are keen to be a part of our panto because of the reputation that has grown over the years, and each year sales outstrip the year before. We're well on track to do that again with Peter Pan.

"What's equally important is the storytelling. Every year we strive to tell a story where the audience genuinely roots for the hero, so people aren't just watching a series of comedy routines or sketches, they're sharing an adventure with the characters with all of the excitement and enjoyment that entails - and we have a great adventure in store this year. The elements that people know and love from the classic tale of Peter Pan are there but this a new story and we can't wait to share it with our audiences."

*Peter Pan: A New Adventure runs from Friday, November 18, to Sunday, January 8. For more details and ticket prices go to www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk.

Funded by RoyAl Greenwich, Greenwich Theatre is one of London's foremost Off-West End theatres, presenting a year round programme of drama, musicals and family theatre. It is one of the country's leading supporters of young and emerging theatre makers, currently supporting up to 20 young artists and companies in everything from production and tour management to script development and marketing.

Greenwich Theatre is also a significant developer and programmer of theatre for families and children, and lead producer on the annuAl Greenwich Children's Theatre Festival (part of the RoyAl Greenwich Festivals), and producer of one of the country's favourite traditional family pantomimes.

The launch of Greenwich Theatre On Tour has seen the theatre work with emerging companies to co-produce theatre at a range of national and international venues, with performances in London, Brighton, Edinburgh, Dublin, Adelaide, Madrid and New York.