‘Silo’ Star Lolita Chakrabarti Joins Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Wendy & Peter Pan’ (EXCLUSIVE)

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has unveiled the complete cast for Ella Hickson’s reimagined take on J.M. Barrie’s beloved tale, with “Wendy & Peter Pan” set to make its London premiere at the Barbican Theatre this fall.

Toby Stephens, previously announced as Captain Hook and Mr. Darling, will be joined by Lolita Chakrabarti as Mrs. Darling in what marks her RSC acting debut. The ensemble cast features Hannah Saxby and Daniel Krikler making their RSC debuts as the titular characters Wendy and Peter Pan, respectively, with Charlotte Mills returning as Tink.

Chakrabarti, known for her adaptation of “Hamnet” which premiered at the Swan Theatre before transferring to the West End, brings significant screen credits including Apple’s “Silo,” BBC’s “Vigil” and “Showtrial,” and Amazon’s “The Wheel of Time.” Her playwriting accolades include the Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of “Life of Pi” and “Red Velvet.”

“It is such a thrill for me to play Mrs Darling for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican. Three firsts in my career and an exciting challenge at its heart,” Chakrabarti told Variety. “This character has been beautifully redrawn by the masterful Ella Hickson. Mrs D is mother of Wendy but also a woman finding her feet after terrible loss. Through it all she rediscovers love, family and herself. I’m so looking forward to working with this team. The show promises to be magical in all ways.”

Hickson’s adaptation follows Wendy on an adventure as she journeys from the Darling nursery in search of the key to her parents’ forgotten happiness. With Peter Pan, fairy Tink and Tiger Lily as her unlikely allies, Wendy takes on the diabolical Captain Hook and ultimately learns what it really means to grow up.

Jonathan Munby directs the production. “I am delighted audiences will be travelling to Neverland with Ella Hickson’s remarkable ‘Wendy & Peter Pan,'” Munby said. “Bringing this production to the Barbican with such an exceptional company is both a privilege and an enormous creative joy. We have assembled an extraordinarily talented and diverse group of artists, each of whom will bring their own imagination, skill and courage to meet the challenges of this ambitious piece.”

The creative team includes set and costume designer Colin Richmond, choreographer Lucy Hind, composer Shuhei Kamimura, and sound designer Christopher Shutt, with lighting by Oliver Fenwick and video design by Taiki Ueda.

This production of “Wendy & Peter Pan” was originally presented by Bunkamura Theatre in Tokyo and Leeds Playhouse before its Barbican transfer.

“Wendy & Peter Pan” begins performances Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 22.