9-year-old Great Ormond Street Patient Takes Flight as Peter Pan on Cornwall Playhouse Stage

Peter Pan might be the most magical story there is, and ahead of the show opening at the Cornwall Playhouse in December 2023 we spent a few hours in August 2023 bringing the story to life for one brave little boy.

In August 2022, Woody was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) with bone marrow failure. After a successful procedure, the boy and his family are relishing the second chance that the GOSH intervention has provided.

J.M Barrie, author of Peter Pan, gifted copyright of his story to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), which means that all royalties are donated directly to the charity to fund their life-saving work. This unforgettable gift is one that keeps on giving, and when we heard Woody's story, we felt it was our duty to invite him for the experience of a lifetime.

He even came dressed as the boy himself!

Little did Woody know that the actors who will play Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinker Bell were waiting in the wings in full costume, ready to guide him through the starry skies of their magical set.

“When Hall for Cornwall asked my son if he’d like to fly like Peter Pan his face lit up. Coming to the theatre and seeing a show is a magical experience but being able to meet the cast and crew and fly was just incredible.”

-Laurie, Woody's Mum

Woody was taken backstage where he met the cast of our Christmas Show, before stepping into his harness and taking flight. Flying company Flying First Class were joined by Tinker Bell to help him fly.

Tinker Bell sprinkles fairy dust to help Woody fly...

After the flight, Woody exclaimed: “That was probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my life!” 

Woody was also joined by Kate Orchard, 101, who broke the record for being the oldest person in the UK to fly on the stage on wires. Kate was delighted to meet Woody, taking the opportunity to throw a handful of ‘fairy dust’ over him as they flew side-by-side. 

You can read more about Kate's magical day here.

Woody's mum told us later that day: “Woody has suffered with a lot of anxiety over the past year and flying made him feel very special and brave. Theatre has been a huge part of Woody’s recovery, so this experience was so important. Thank you to Hall for Cornwall, the flying crew, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and Wendy for making my little boy feel so special and thank you for giving him (and me crying from the wings!) this opportunity. We can’t wait to come back to the Cornwall Playhouse to watch Peter Pan.” 

Woody and his family will return in December to watch Peter Pan on an invitation-only VIP evening with other special guests.

You can find out more about Peter Pan, starring Edward Rowe (Kernow King) and written/directed by Steve Marmion here: https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/whats-on/peter-pan/

"Peter Pan" is a Cornwall Playhouse Production, sponsored by First Kernow.

"Peter Pan” is presented by arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Concord Theatricals Ltd. On behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk.