PETER PAN does not transfer as readily as some stories to pantomime, but Extravaganza Productions succeeded in Hooking in the audience at Middlesbrough Theatre.

The tale, as written by JM Barrie, has peaks and troughs, it is by no means a laugh-a-minute farce, and the key when moving it to the stage is to keep young and old engaged throughout.

Of course, having a star turn as one of your leading men helps and John Challis, aka Boycie from Only Fools and Horses, is a natural as the evil one-handed pirate captain.

But those expecting a parody of the role that made him famous might be disappointed because although he does reference his longsuffering wife, Marlene, it is more as an aside than a key component of the plot.

Instead, and perhaps correctly, his performance is much more in the tradition of the character and at times – while describing just how he would attract the sharks to nibble at the drowning children, for example – he is proper menacing, at least I imagine to a six-year-old.

Challis is ably supported by Jack Lane as Peter Pan, Kelly Bibb as Wendy, Terry Ashe as Cecco the Pirate, and Joanne Shields as Miranda the Mermaid, but the real star of this show is Scott Gallagher, as Smee. It is he who gets all the best lines, including references to popular culture such as the Gangnam Style dance craze – will there be a panto in the land where it isn’t mentioned this year? – and his interaction with a very willing crowd is key to the success of this extravaganza. Go see it.

Until January 6. Tickets on 01642-815181 or 729729 or at middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk