The classic tale of the boy who never grows up has been enchanting generations for over a century and this week one rising local star, Abigail Simpson, will bring the mischievous adventurer to life at the Harlow Playhouse for Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan the Musical.

No stranger to the Playhouse stage, 17-year-old Abigail, from Sawbridgeworth, has already appeared in Bugsy Malone, 42nd Street, Crazy For You and Anything Goes. Training with Jacqui Ison Theatre Arts in Bishop’s Stortford since the age of six, Abigail also recently completed an audition with the Guildford School of Acting.

Playing Abigail’s Wendy Darling will be 15-year-old Amy Moulder, from Waltham Abbey, who recently took the title role in Oliver! at the Playhouse, and is also a regular member of the theatre’s pantomime cast.

Former Playhouse manager Phil Dalem returns to direct the play. He says: “I’m incredibly excited with the pairing of Abigail and Amy as Peter and Wendy. They both have tremendous talent and have obviously been training hard from a very young age. They have both whole-heartedly committed themselves to making these familiar characters feel fresh and exciting to a whole new generation. They’ve certainly set a high standard for future Phoenix Theatre School students to aspire to.”

Also making a return to the Playhouse stage are Lee Pace and Ritchie Parrott, former stars of the record breaking 2005 Playhouse Theatre production of Wizard of Oz, who will respectively play Captain Hook and his sidekick Smee.

Phil, who was the Playhouse general manager for seven years and is now the founder and principal of Phoenix Theatre School, adds: “Lee and Ritchie have many years experience of the Playhouse stage between them and we are all excited to be coming back to where we have had so much fun creating big scale family entertainment.”

To create that “big scale” impact for this production, Phil hired the best in aerial training, the world famous Flying By Foy. Founded in 1957 by Peter Foy, the company has enjoyed a long association with Peter Pan that started with the direction of Mary Martin in the famous 1954 Broadway production. Foy is now responsible for creating flying effects for many film, theatre and television projects, including the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the blockbuster movie Finding Neverland and West End productions such as Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

For this show, Abigail (Peter), Amy (Wendy), David Ballard (John) and Jessica Keilty (Michael) all spent a day on the ropes with Foy’s flying director Adam Bailey.

Phil explains: “We needed the flying to be believable and magical and Foy is the best in the world for doing just that. Adam was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable and has helped us create some truly jaw-dropping flying scenes that will amaze adults and children alike. I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing the audience’s reaction when they all fly out of the nursery towards Neverland, it will certainly give us all a special thrill.”

Peter Pan the Musical runs at the Harlow Playhouse from Saturday, September 12 to Saturday, September 19. Tickets: 01279 431945 or www.playhouseharlow.com (£10-£14)