Sir James Barrie in Surrey
Although originally brought up in a weaver's cottage in Kirriemuir, Barrie had links with central and west Surrey which lasted for many years. Indeed, it helped to provide the inspiration for several of his plays.
His first visit was in 1885 at the invitation of the celebrated Victorian author George Meredith who lived in Flint House on Box Hill, from where he had his first view of the Surrey villages nestling under the North Downs. From then on, with his literary friends he enjoyed regular rambles through the county.
During one of these they watched a cricket match at Shere and decided to challenge "this rather elderly" side. Barrie was appointed captain and the team was named the Allahakbars, the African word meaning "Heaven help us". Their first match against Shere was held at Albury and they were soundly beaten. The following summers they played games all over the county, including Frensham, Esher's cricket team.
In 1898 his wife, Mary, found a home for them on the Tilford Road out of Farnham. The house was almost surrounded by a pine forest, with only a dusty, winding road to connect it to the outside world. Across the road, lay a lake, which was to be, with the help of his young friends, Peter, George, Michael and Jack Llewelyn Davies, the inspiration not only for Peter and Never Never Land but also The Admirable Crichton and Mary Rose. Later in the pine woods around the house he found the setting for Dear Brutus.
Why I wanted to Stage Peter Pan
From a very young age, much about the time of the picture with my biography later in this programme, I was brought up on tales about Barrie. For many years my grandfather, a fashionable and successful painter, Norman Prescott Davies, used to get away from his Hampstead home and studio in the summer by taking a house in Surrey, normally around Abinger, and was part of Barrie's circle of literary friends. Indeed my mother was a twin in an early production of Peter Pan.
My mother was the model for a great number of his pictures, they were said to be the inspiration for Will Dearth, the artist, who found a daughter he had never had in Mr. Lob's magic wood in Barrie's play, Dear Brutus. Again the inspiration came from Surrey countryside.
This production of Peter Pan has been set in 1904, when it was first staged, in a setting not unlike the lake and woods near Barrie's house. The music is from the original score by John Crook.
Having many Nomes, we have been able to cast two teams of lost boys of much the same age as the Lewelyn Davies boys when they acted the story with Barrie.
It is a large production in every sense and we have had a huge team on and backstage. A number of us were hit by the dreaded 'flu and I have been very grateful to everyone for keeping the show on the road, especially Brandon McGuire for his artistic direction.
Bill Pearson
We Gratefully Acknowledge
The Nomads wish to thank Cargill plc, Lady Nicholson and the Nome parents for providing funds to enable us to fly Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael and the Never Bird;
Mrs M.A.G. Fenston for funding a vist by Guildford Disability Challenge;
T.W.White and Sons for providing the Never Land Treasure Hunt in the foyer. |