Peter Pan | Grand Canal Theatre

Interview by: Lauren O'Toole

The World Premiere of the musical Peter Pan is coming to The Grand Canal Theatre from the 15th of July to the 6th of August. With outstanding sets, a brand new musical score and an all-star cast this looks set to be a show that will amaze the whole family. Lauren O'Toole spoke with Katie Ray, the actress playing Wendy:

Are you excited to be back in Dublin after your stint in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang last year?
I can't wait to be back, I do love the audiences in the Grand Canal Theatre. It was a wonderful experience there last time so I'm hoping it will be the same this time around!

Were you a fan of the story of Peter Pan growing up?
Well yes, it's one of those classic stories isn't it but we've such a modern twist on it this time that it's all very different so it's exciting and new even with that traditional edge to it

There's something very magical about the story of Peter Pan - for children and adults alike in that it is about kids who are reluctant to grow up. Can you identify with Wendy at all - do you ever feel there is still a little girl inside?
Well absolutely! It's quite fun actually because I'm playing quite a bit younger than my age so I do get to be that child again and I get to have a lot of fun with the part and experiment with it. And obviously because Peter Pan is brand new and it's a big new script you get to play a lot and we've been playing a lot with it in the studios in rehearsals and having a lot of fun!

There's great excitement surrounding the flying in Peter Pan! And yet with all the controversy surrounding the aerial stunts going awry in the Broadway Spiderman musical, do you ever get nervous?
No I'm not nervous at all actually, I feel that we've got a good team and it's going to go ok. I've yet to see what exactly is ahead of me but I think it should be quite fun!

The Lost Boys are played by local children I believe - is there any truth in that old show biz adage that one should never work with children or animals?
It's always quite fun to get that new energy from the kids - and we've actually got both children and animals in our show!

Oh have you?
Well, we've got a dog. Well I say it's a dog but it's really a boy acting as a dog!

In the story Peter Pan gives Wendy a keepsake; a thimble he calls a kiss. Do you have any little good luck charms for when you are travelling with a production?
I practise quite a lot of yoga so I bring my yoga mat everywhere with me and that works as my little reflection so I can sit there every now and then and contemplate and calm down before I get on the stage to leap around!

You have quite an impressive back catalogue of roles - is there any musical you have yet to appear in that you have always wanted to?
Oh gosh many, but I don't have the time to list them all! There are so many exciting things to do but I think always doing new projects is the most exciting to be quite honest. I think when something new is put in place the way Peter Pan has been I think that's the most challenging because it means as an actress you can be as creative and spontaneous as you like and you're not just playing a part that everyone knows and is familiar with; you can be quite different. Even though this is an old story the production is brand new and that's very exciting.

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Thursday 23rd June 2011 | Theatre

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Comments

• iggly

  cant wait to see peter pan.id say its going to be fascinating for adults as well as children

  Posted 23:41 | Thu 23rd Jun 2011

• Grace

  Love to see Peter Pan flying - a real treat to go see him

  Posted 16:51 | Thu 14th Jul 2011

• alfier288

  last night i went to see PETER pan. in the Grand Canal Theatre an excellent show great cast katie ray as wendy was excellent in the part. Ben richard as the father and captain cook he was superb in the role as capatain hook. les dennis was fantastic as smithy peter pan was played by Daniel Boys who was also superb in this role overall a fantastic show i would reccomend to young and the not so young 10 /10

  Posted 15:26 | Wed 27th Jul 2011

• alfier288

  maureen nolan was also excellent as the mother and the mermaid queen

  Posted 15:27 | Wed 27th Jul 2011

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