SEARCH out your pirate hat, buckle on your sword and stock up on fairy dust – the magical journey to Neverland is about to begin.

The Wyvern Theatre’s spectacular annual pantomime begins on Saturday, December 2, and the actors, dancers and technical team are hard at work conjuring up the enchantment of Peter Pan – with its high-flying lost boys, swashbuckling pirates and the glittering fairy Tinkerbell.

Adam Woodyatt, famous for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap EastEnders, will play swaggering pirate captain and villain of the piece, the one-handed Captain Hook.

This week he and the rest of the cast are busy in rehearsals, preparing for the big adventure. Already 84 per cent of the tickets are sold so if you want to enjoy the festive performance, be sure to book your seats as soon as you can.

“A lot of the performances are sold out or nearly sold out. Ticket sales are up on last year,” said Wyvern spokesman Laura James.

Peter Pan, based on the stage play and novel by JM Barrie, tells the story of a boy who never grows up but lives with the Lost Boys in a magical land inhabited by pirates, fairies and a malevolent crocodile.

He takes Wendy and her two brothers from their London home to Neverland where they have many exciting adventures, and Peter must deal with his old adversary, Captain Hook.

The Wyvern pantomime will feature all our favourite pantomime ingredients, plenty of comedy, stunning flying sequences and lots of audience interaction.

“It’s all excitement at the theatre – all the rehearsal spaces are busy with people practising acting and singing and dancing.

“This is a year-long campaign for us, so it’s great it’s finally here,” said Laura.

As well as the main cast, the pantomime includes a cast of local juvenile dancers and a dance ensemble from Laine Theatre Arts.

The cast is 21 strong, with two teams making up the cast of the younger performers so they can play in alternate performances.

The technical team are busy creating a fabulous set, which even the Wyvern team have yet to see – as it is all hush-hush till the unveiling next week.

“The show will be very sparkly and colourful,” Laura said. “There will be special effects, and that is being kept secret too. We will get to see them when we start the dress rehearsals.”

The pantomime is produced by the Wyvern Theatre with One From The Heart, and Qdos Entertainment have provided the lavish costumes for the cast.

“The set and costumes come through them and are of the highest quality,” Laura explained.

Expect plenty of boos and hisses, slapstick and magic, songs and dancing with entertainment for all the family to enjoy.

A Relaxed Performance, suitable for customers who find it difficult to cope with a traditional theatre atmosphere due to having learning difficulties or conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, or for children particularly sensitive to loud noises or who dislike the dark, will take place on Friday December 8 at 1pm.

Sign-interpreted performances will take place on Saturday, December 16 at 1pm and 7pm, and an audio-described show on Saturday, December 30 at 1pm.

The pantomime runs from Saturday, December 2 till Sunday, December 31 with performances twice a day, with variable times.

Ticket prices vary by date, and range from £19 to £31.50, with concessions and family tickets available.

To book, call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.