Music: Janusz Stokłosa
Lyrics: Jeremi Przybora
Director and choreographer: Janusz Józefowicz
Pre-premiere:
ROMA Musical Theatre: 27 February 2000
A musical based on the famous classic novel “Peter Pan” written by J.M. Barrie in 1911. The libretto was created by Jeremi Przybora who – like composer Janusz Stokłosa – wrote a new original work. PETER PAN is the first large-scale family musical created especially for the ROMA Musical Theatre. The next similar undertaking, this time based on a Polish classic, will be the musical “The Academy of Mr. Kleks”, which will open to the public in 2007.
The director and choreographer of the show is Janusz Józefowicz, with set design by Marek Chowaniec and the costumes created by Dorota Kołodyńska. While still focusing on spectacular staging, the show’s creators have not forgotten the timeless and important message conveyed in the story. After all, that’s why “Peter Pan” became such a classic.
This is what Jeremi Przybora, the writer of the libretto, wrote about “Peter Pan” in his own programme notes: “J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’ has been a literary masterpiece for at least two generations, and will be for many more to come. It is aimed equally at children and adults alike. This is a fate shared by all intelligent children’s stories, as we can call them: ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Winnie the Pooh’ and ‘Mary Poppins’ […] But what was it about ‘Peter Pan’, this great classic of children’s literature, that spoke to me so much? I don’t think it was just the wisdom and singularity of the story about Peter. Writing this musical was determined by what distinguishes Barrie’s work from other works of this genre. What distinguishes it is the strongly drawn theme of love, […] in a form so subliminal and subtle that we can call it sophisticated – not the purest and most beautiful form of love – but maternal love.”
This ROMA Theatre family spectacular is a show for all age groups, with a musical and visual power that is sure to have a huge effect on all who see it. ROMA Theatre has proved that it can produce musicals on an undoubted world-class level, and that the work of domestic producers can compete on an equal footing with the biggest West End hits.
Selected songs: “Cheeky Face” and “When The Tide Comes In”.