You don’t often see the names Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Peter Pan in the same sentence – but this dreamy collaboration of names signals a new, refreshed and less-than-traditional take on the tale of the mischievous young boy with a never-ending childhood. The Adventures of Peter Pan and TinkerBell in Return to Pantoland, which has been created by Bonnie Lythgoe Productions, one of Australia’s most renowned pantomime (panto) producers, will be staged at The Arts Centre Gold Coast from June 23 to July 1. As the well-known judge and co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance, Bonnie Lithgow has created a jaw-dropping performance filled with spectacular effects, glittering sets and elaborate costuming, plus scores of song and dance numbers, knee-slapping comedy (don’t worry, the ‘adult’ jokes will go right over the kids’ heads, we promise) and plenty of audience participation.

There are some big names in the cast, with the uber-talented Todd McKenney as Hook, former High-5 star Tim Madren as Peter Pan and Jaime Hadwen as TinkerBell, alongside a talented ensemble of Gold Coast-based performers. An impressive troupe of some of Australia’s best hip-hop dancers will play The Lost Boys, who are tasked with injecting a little bit of ‘magic’ into the production. Pals, if you’re in need of a night out, then grab a bunch of friends and get on this. Arrive early for an evening performance and immerse yourself in the Neverland experience featuring a two-course dinner package with complimentary sparkling wine before the show. The dining packages are available for specific performances – jump over to The Arts Centre Gold Coast to book. By the way, this is the world premiere and the only Queensland performance for 2017, so be quick!