Tag: Martin Dodds

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Emmerdale bad lad Tom Lister to play Captain Hook in Grand Opera House panto The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan

Tom Lister’s Captain Hook in the poster for The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook

EMMERDALE star Tom Lister is Hooking up with the Grand Opera House to make his York pantomime debut in The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook from December 5 to January 3 2027.

Stage and screen actor Lister, 47, best known for his eight years as bad lad Carl King in the Yorkshire soap from 2004 to 2012, will be in villainous mode anew as Captain Hook, performing alongside the already confirmed comedic returnee Jimmy Bryant as Smee in the UK Productions show.

Born Thomas Brown in Ingleton, Yorkshireman Lister took his mother’s maiden name when turning professional. Since graduating from Birmingham School of Acting in 2001, he has played Harry Wainwright in Heartbeat and Rob Ingram in The Bill, as well as appearing in Doctors and Hollyoaks and taking on the guise of jazz pianist Jamie Cullum on Stars In Their Eyes.

On leaving Emmerdale in October 2012, he played Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Sundreland Empire that winter and has since branched out into musical theatre as Grimes in the world premiere of Water Babies at Curve, Leicester, in April 2014, subsequently appearing as Wild Bill Hickoc in the 2014 UK tour of Calamity Jane, as well as in 42nd Street in the West End and Legally Blonde The Musical.

He will be on familiar panto terrain once more as Captain Hook this winter, having won the Best Villain prize at the inaugural Great British Pantomime Awards in 2017 for his performance in Peter Pan in the 2016-2017 season at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.

“I’m so excited to be sailing into York this Christmas as Captain Hook,” says Tom. “He’s a role I love, and I swear he gets more wicked and mischievous every year I play him!

“As a Yorkshireman, York is very close to my heart, and I can’t wait to spend Christmas in this beautiful city. I am really looking forward to teaming up with Jimmy Bryant to bring all of the festive magic and mayhem of panto. So come aboard and join us, or you’ll be walking the plank.”

Producer Martin Dodd adds: “We’re delighted that the wonderfully charismatic Tom Lister will be appearing as the deliciously devilish Captain Hook in this year’s pantomime.  Tom brings real star quality to Neverland. Paired with the brilliantly funny Jimmy Bryant as Smee, audiences can expect a perfect storm of comedy, adventure and just a touch of villainous charm.”

The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook will run at the Grand Opera House, York, from December 5 to January 3 2027. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

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Jimmy Bryant to bounce back as Smee on pantomime return to Grand Opera House in The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan

Jimmy Bryant: First name out of the pirate’s hat to be confirmed for The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan at Grand Opera House, York

COMEDY turn Jimmy Bryant will brew up a storm of laughter on his return to the Grand Opera House, York, in UK Productions’ swashbuckling pantomime The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan: The Return Of Captain Hook.

After shining as Buttons in Cinderella, the Cumberland Street theatre’s most successful panto ever, Bryant will take to the high seas as Smee from December 5 to January 3 2027 with his combination of comic timing, glorious chaos and heart-warming mischief.

“I’m absolutely pixie-dust levels of thrilled to be sailing back to the Grand Opera House, York!” says actor, comic performer and immersive theatre enthusiast Jimmy. “Last year’s audiences were honestly unforgettable, and the thought of stepping back onto that stage gives me goosebumps.

“Smee is such a brilliantly bonkers character – loyal, chaotic, always in the wrong place at the wrong time – and I promise we are going bigger, bolder and sillier than ever before.

“This show is packed with spectacle, surprises and so much heart. York, get ready, because this Christmas we’re not just going to Neverland…we’re going to blow the roof off it!”

Grand Opera House theatre director Allie Long enthuses: “Cinderella was our most successful pantomime to date, and that was due in no small part to Jimmy’s brilliant and hilarious turn as Buttons.

“We’re thrilled to have Jimmy returning, and we can’t wait to welcome him — along with the rest of The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan cast — to the stage for what promises to an unforgettable pantomime season at the Grand Opera House.”

It’s Smee: Jimmy Bryant in the poster for UK Productions’ 2026 pantomime at the Grand Opera House, York

UK Productions producer Martin Dodd adds: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Jimmy Bryant back aboard at the magnificent Grand Opera House, York, for this year’s panto, which is going to be to be a ship-shape riot!

“Jimmy’s Smee will be a masterclass in comic chaos, the perfect first mate to mischief, mayhem and a certain ticking crocodile lurking in the wings. There’ll be pirates, planks and plenty of hooks, but the biggest catch this Christmas is your ticket. So, hoist the mainsail, gather your crew and hook your tickets now!”

Bryant’s theatre credits include Cockfosters (Southwark Playhouse), Costard in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Cockpit Theatre), Al Capone in Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Herr Kutte in Jack & The Beanstalk (Cheltenham Playhouse), In The Dead Of The Night(UK tour), Doctor Who: Time Fracture (BBC/Immersive Everywhere) and The Immersive Wolf Of Wall Street (Stratton Oakmont Productions).

Among his film credits are Morris in PINKY! (ESA Films) and ROBBED The Movie, written and directed by Bryant.

Uniting leading UK pantomime producer UK Productions with the Grand Opera House for the fifth time, The Further Adventures Of Peter Pan is designed to appeal to families, offices, families and friendship groups alike.

Audiences are invited to “race to book before the best seats walk the plank”. “In panto land, it’s never too early to secure your spot, because once tickets start flying, they’ll be gone quicker than Peter Pan with a sprinkling of pixie dust. Grab your seats now before they’re swallowed by the crocodile,” reads the press release.

Further casting will be announced. Tickets are on sale at atgtickets.com/york.