Resource review: Peter Pan learning resources

JM Barrie's classic Peter Pan is brought back to life in this charming adaptation directed by Sally Cookson. It's a dynamic, imaginative performance, complete with acrobatics, movement, stagecraft and, of course, flying characters. Recorded via National Theatre Live+ in 2017 in partnership with Bristol Old Vic Theatre, the play's initial run delighted young audiences across the southwest and in London, when it was transferred to the Troubadour White City Theatre.

As part of its digital release, the National Theatre Collection has released a range of learning resources for teachers at KS2 and KS3 levels, compiled by teacher and arts education consultant Susie Ferguson. The pack includes a plot synopsis with handy timecodes, which makes it easy to navigate between different sections of the performance at ease. It also points out aspects of the production that might be of interest for teachers to explore with their students, such as the doubling and gender swapping of characters, the ways the company has created locations using simplistic props, and how the set design allows actors to ‘fly’.

Taking you through the various key design elements in set, costume, lighting, sound, wigs, hair, make-up and puppetry, the detailed learning guide should also help you touch on all aspects of the production with your classes. It also comes with a selection of helpful links to other related content, such as a panel discussion between various dramatists on the challenges of adapting novels to stage. The fact that Peter Pan is adapted from a novel provides ample opportunity for cross-curricular learning, so a project looking at this production could cross over with English studies. The guide offers up a range of detailed differences between the novel and its play adaptation, all of which provide excellent jumping-off points for further discussion.

Also offered as part of the National Theatre Collection's offering is a pack of learning resources, with a series of vibrant, engaging lesson and exercise ideas to try with pupils studying at KS2, which can all be used across different subjects from science and maths to literacy and art.

The National Theatre Collection has created a range of invaluable resources around this already impactful production of Peter Pan. While the play itself will help spark children's imaginations, the accompanying resources will expand the possibilities of this in a learning environment and help children think more creatively about the theatre they watch and enjoy.

Peter Pan is available via Drama Online.