Joe Sleight’s Peter Pan in the Grand Opera House poster for The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook
WEST End star Joe Sleight will fly high as Peter Pan in the 2026 Grand Opera House pantomime, The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook.
Sleight will take to the York stage from December 5 to January 3 2027 as the boy who never grew up, bringing charm, energy, mischief and theatrical magic to the UK Productions show.
He last appeared at the Cumberland Street theatre as twin brother Eddie Lyons in Blood Brothers in April 2025 and now swaps the emotional power of Willy Russell’s beloved Liverpool musical for the magic, adventure and youthful spirit of Peter Pan.
Sleight’s theatre credits include: Boq in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End); Roger and 1st Cover Pongo in 101 Dalmatians (Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, West End); Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Middle Temple Hall, London); Rudolph and puppetry director in Rudolph The Reindeer’s Red Nose Roadshow (The Bolton Octagon); The Russian in Chess (Union Theatre, London); Roger in Grease (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre); Benji in Benji The Fish (UK tour) and the international and Chinese tour of JunNk, the percussion musical.
His pantomime roles include: Jack in Jack And The Beanstalk (Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, for UK Productions); Prince Charming in Cinderella (St Helens Theatre Royal; Peter Pan in Peter Pan for Qdos/ Crossroads Entertainment (Dartford Orchard Theatre, Royal & Derngate Theatre, Plymouth Theatre Royal and Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe) and Dandini in Cinderella (Towngate Theatre).
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning to York and to the beautiful Grand Opera House after such an unforgettable run as Eddie in Blood Brothers,” says Joe. “York audiences are incredibly special, and I can’t wait to be back on that stage for something completely different, full of magic, mischief and adventure.
Brothers in arms: Joe Sleight’s Eddie Lyons, right, and Sean Jones’s Mickey Johnstone in Blood Brothers, on tour at the Grand Opera House, York, in April 2025. Picture: Jack Merriman
“This time I’m swapping school ties for fairy dust, and stepping into the role of Peter Pan is a real pinch-me moment. It’s a story filled with imagination, heart and the joy of never growing up, and I can’t wait to fly into Neverland with audiences this Christmas. Bring on the magic!”
Sleight joins a blockbuster line-up led by Tom Lister, Emmerdale soap star and musical theatre performer, whose credits include 42nd Street, Calamity Jane and Legally Blonde.
Alongside Lister’s dastardly Captain Hook will be audience favourite Jimmy Bryant, returning as Smee after delighting York audiences as Buttons in last year’s Cinderella, while Nick Jr’s Holly Atterton will bring sass, sparkle and fairy-dust magic as Tinker Bell.
Grand Opera House theatre director Allie Long is thrilled to welcome Sleight back to the York stage. “We can’t wait to see Joe’s Peter Pan,” she says. “I can’t wait to witness all of Peter’s antics as Joe joins Holly, Jimmy and Joe in what is shaping up to be a fantastic ensemble cast for the lucky Grand Opera House York audiences.
“With Joe bringing youthful adventure and high-flying charisma as Peter Pan, Tom bringing villainous swagger, Jimmy bringing comedy gold and Holly adding magical sparkle, this is a cast built to give York families a Christmas panto to remember.” .
UK Productions producer Martin Dodd adds: “We’re thrilled to welcome the brilliant Joe Sleight to the Grand Opera House as our ever-youthful Peter Pan! With bucketloads of charisma and energy, he’s sure to soar to new heights and win hearts along the way. Get your tickets before they fly away!”
To book tickets, go to: atgtickets.com/york.