THE famous J M Barrie story of the boy who refused to grow up is a timeless tale of adventure that has appealed to children down the ages.

Tonight the curtain rises on Peter Pan at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre and runs until Saturday, June 25.

This adaptation is by the Estelle School of Dancing and it will be something of a family affair as Alexandra Bamford, the granddaughter of Pat Bennett, the principal of the dance school, is taking the part of Tinkerbell.

The last time the dancers returned to Neverland was eight years ago when Alice Baker took the part of Peter Pan’s fairy companion.

Pat said: “Alice is now performing in the world premiere of Devilish, a new professional show in London, and before that she performed in panto alongside Julian Clary in Wolverhampton.’’

Encouraging and inspiring young artists is one of the joys of teaching for Pat and this year Abigail Daniels, who played the part of Michael eight years ago at the Wyvern, has now progressed to the level where she takes on the leading role of Pan.

She is joined on stage by a cast of 100 and the adult parts are taken by members of the Immanuel Dramatic Society, which is based in the Immanuel Church Hall in Upham Road, where Pat’s dance school is centred. The school has grown from its launch in 1958, when Pat had only two pupils.

Peter Pan is a full scale musical with lots of dancing and songs, including numbers such as Got To Believe In Fairies, Come Away To Neverland and a real tear jerker Don’t Say Goodbye.

“We have a ballet, pirates tap dancing with cutlasses, and Indians dancing to some catchy tunes,’’ says Pat This production is adapted by Piers Chater-Robinson and is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. The cast range in age from two-year-old toddlers to adults.

Tickets for the show, which starts at 7.30pm tonight and 2.30pm for a Saturday matinee, are £12, concessions £2 off. Call 01793 524481.