Colin McCredie is starring as Captain Hook in Janys Chambers’ adaptation of JM Barrie’s classic story at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this Christmas.
When we speak, he’s about to begin full dress rehearsal after a couple of days of technical rehearsal work.
“It involved flying, sword fighting, a giant crocodile and lots of other effects,” he says.
A giant crocodile
“It’s been technically quite complicated, but it’s all gone fairly well. I do a lot of swordfighting with Robbie Scott, who plays Peter Pan.
“He’s really good and he’s half my age, so he keeps me in my place. Ultimately, Hook ends up in a giant crocodile.”
It’s not too much of a spoiler to give that away. Hook is two roles in one for McCredie, as it involves playing the children’s father Mr Darling at the beginning, on what he describes as a nice journey for both characters.
“You could overanalyse it and do it like Robert De Niro, going all method, or just play it for what it is,” he says.
“I know there’s been some really dark productions of this show, but I have a brilliant costume with a hook and a wig with a galleon on top of it.
Funny and scary
“I’m trying to have fun, to play the part humorous but scary, like Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”
Appearing alongside McCredie are Pitlochry regular Deirdre Davis, as Smee and Mrs Darling, and Fiona Wood as Wendy.
There are nine cast members in total, with songs throughout. McCredie points out it’s not a panto, though, but a Christmas play.
“You could do it any time,” he says. “There are obviously nods to Christmas, but it’s a timeless adaptation.
“When we discussed it, you started psychoanalysing the play and thinking, these are children who have disappeared, this is a boy who doesn’t want to grow up – there’s stuff that’s a bit unsettling.
“So you either bring that out from a 2022 perspective, or you present an innocent portrayal, and that’s what we’re trying to do. To not judge it from now, but present it quite innocently.”
The original was set in 1917 in Kensington, he says, but this version could be set anytime, anywhere.
A universal tale
“The story is so universal. It could be a big house in Perth or Pitlochry or Edinburgh. We’re not in Sloane Square, and we’re just using our voices.”
During his 15 years on Taggart, McCredie had no time to do Christmas shows, although he started out as a 13-year-old in Peter Pan opposite Rikki Fulton at Perth Theatre, his local venue, where he attended youth theatre with Ewan McGregor.
“Pitlochry was the place you would come for a day out then,” he says. “My dad was evacuated here during the war, his gran and mother were from Pitlochry, so it was always an important place in my life.
“Never to work as an actor, though, it felt a bit like Chichester in Scotland. Then when Elizabeth (Newman, artistic director) came in, she realised there are so many great actors and designers and playwrights in Scotland, and she looked outwards.
“Two weeks ago there was a Pitlochry show on in Watford, one in Mull and one in Glasgow, that’s absolutely fantastic.
“For some reason she offered me a job, then she’s offered me some more jobs. I love coming to Pitlochry, there’s so much talent here and it’s great to be part of it.”
Peter Pan and Wendy is at Pitlochry Festival Theatre until Friday December 23. www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
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