Cast members Millie Readshaw, Sophie Bishop, Bradley Riches, Tom Whalley, Miss Rory and Olivia Birchenough from the Sunderland Empire’s production of Peter Pan pictured during their visit to HMS Trincomalee at the Royal Navy Museum in Hartlepool Picture: David Wood
By Grace Hatchell
There are certain things you can rely on at Christmas in the North East. There will be arguments over tubs of chocolates, somebody will insist it’s far too early to put the decorations up, and Sunderland Empire will assemble a panto cast determined to cause absolute chaos.
This year, they’ve taken to the high seas.
The full principal cast has now been revealed for The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook, which arrives at Sunderland Empire from 11 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
And they didn’t just line everyone up against a theatre wall for the announcement, either. The cast headed to the Royal Navy Museum Hartlepool to launch this year’s adventure properly.
Frankly, if you’re announcing a panto involving Captain Hook, pirates and crocodiles, this seems considerably more appropriate.
Leading the expedition to Neverland is Emmerdale and Heartstopper star Bradley Riches as Peter Pan.
He’ll be facing a Captain Hook who may look rather familiar to North East audiences – although perhaps not usually quite this villainous.
Miss Rory is swapping panto mischief for outright wickedness as Captain Rorina Hook, marking her first turn as the villain. She’ll once again be joined by Tom Whalley as Smee, with the pair returning to Sunderland Empire together for a seventh year by popular demand.
I suspect Captain Rorina Hook is going to have absolutely no trouble getting a Sunderland audience to boo her.
Also returning to Sunderland is Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter Olivia Birchenough, who previously played Belle in the Empire’s 2023 Beauty and the Beast. This time she’s heading underwater – or at least somewhere in that general direction – as Ethel Mermaid.
But there were still two names being kept tucked away in the treasure chest.
Middlesbrough’s Millie Readshaw will play Tinker Bell, returning to Sunderland after appearing as the Vegetable Fairy in Jack and the Beanstalk in 2024.
She’s had a rather busy time since then, touring the UK and Europe with Six the Musical as alternate Aragon and Cleves. Now she’s swapping queens for fairy wings, which feels like quite the career wardrobe change.
Millie said:
“I am beyond excited to be back in my wings at Sunderland Empire this Christmas! I am so grateful to be back performing on the stage my 13-year-old self dreamed of! Come join us for a very magical Christmas!”
Completing the principal cast is Sophie Bishop as Emily Darling.
This will be Sophie’s professional pantomime debut, although there’s a rather lovely full-circle story behind it. Her own stage journey began in a pantomime when she was ten years old, and after training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts she’s now returning to the panto world as a professional performer.
Sophie said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to make my professional pantomime debut in The Further Adventures of Peter Pan at the iconic Sunderland Empire! My stage journey began in a pantomime when I was ten years old, so returning to this magical tradition as a professional is a true dream come true. Let’s fly to Neverland!”
And Neverland sounds like it might be getting a little unruly.
Peter Pan thought life had returned to normal after defeating Captain Hook. Unfortunately, rumours are spreading that Hook survived those stormy seas and is now rather keen on revenge.
Cue pirate sword fights, crocodile chases, flying sequences, choreography, special effects and, because this is pantomime and we all know the rules, plenty of opportunities to shout at somebody standing directly behind Peter.
The production promises plenty of audience interaction alongside its flying effects and general nautical mayhem.
Producer Martin Dodd says audiences are in for a “spectacular festive treat”, and with Bradley Riches, Miss Rory, Tom Whalley, Olivia Birchenough, Millie Readshaw and Sophie Bishop all aboard, Sunderland certainly isn’t short of personalities for this particular voyage.
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook runs at Sunderland Empire from Friday 11 December 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027.
I’ll just be over here wondering whether a postal satchel counts as acceptable hand luggage for Neverland.
About the Author
