Peter Pan

This abridged version of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” follows the adventures of a mischievous flying boy who never grows up and the three siblings he leads to the magical island of Neverland. Many of Barrie’s original lines from 1911 are used in this script and are underlined so readers know which words are his. With 27 roles, this is a great option for anyone in search of a play with a large cast. The parts are flexible, with many that can be played by any gender.

More Peter Pan play scripts on Drama Notebook:

Peter Pan and the Lost Girl
Peter Pan in Thirty Minutes
Peter Pan for Young Performers
Whitney Darling, a Modern Peter Pan Play
The Shadow of Peter Pan

About the Playwright:

Kate Brier loved performing in plays as a child and teenager. Now, she loves directing them with students from her children’s homeschool group. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and two sons.

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS:

Peter Pan
Tinkerbell
Shadow
The Crocodile

THE DARLING FAMILY:

Wendy
John
Michael
Mrs. Darling
Mr. Darling
Nana (the dog)

THE LOST KIDS:

Tootles
Slightly
Nibs
Curly
First Twin
Second Twin

THE PIRATES:

Captain Hook
Smee
Starkey
Mullins

THE NATIVES:

Tiger Lily
Brave Spirit
Soaring Hawk
Winter Moon

THE MERMAIDS:

Aquamarina
Coralina
Seraphina

For smaller groups, one actor can play multiple roles, or some parts can be combined. For larger groups, extra Pirates, Lost Kids, Natives, and Mermaids can be cast.

ACT I, SCENE 1
Goodnight Darlings

AT RISE: It is nearly bedtime, and we are in the Darling family nursery. A large window is center stage and there are three beds. SHADOW enters. It frolics around playfully until…

NANA:
(from offstage) Woof! Woof!

(Worried about being caught, SHADOW ducks behind a bed just as JOHN and MICHAEL enter play-fighting as a pirate and Peter Pan. Wendy follows, reading a book. She sits on the edge of a bed while the boys play. NANA the dog trails behind and begins to get the room ready for bedtime by picking up toys, turning down beds, etc.)

JOHN:
(In his best pirate voice) Avast ye matey! Or I’ll send you to Davy Jones’ locker.

MICHAEL:
You can’t hurt me – I’m Peter Pan!

JOHN:
(Still as a pirate) Oh yes, I can, you scallywag! (He grabs MICHAEL). I’ve got you now, Pan!

(MICHAEL struggles to get free and his sword falls)

MICHAEL:
Nana! John’s cheating!

JOHN:
(In his normal voice) Was not!

(NANA nudges the boys apart)

WENDY:
(Looking up from her book and laughing) I doubt that Peter Pan could be captured quite so easily, John.

(MRS. DARLING enters)

MRS. DARLING:
(Amused) Having more pirate adventures I see.

JOHN:
(Handing MICHAEL back his sword) That’s the best kind of adventure!

(JOHN & MICHAEL begin to play again)

MICHAEL:
(Excitedly) And I’m Peter Pan, Mother!

MRS. DARLING:
I’m sure you make a very brave Peter Pan.

(MICHAEL makes his best brave face for MRS. DARLING as MR. DARLING enters in a frenzy. JOHN & MICHAEL continue playing)

MR. DARLING:
(Frazzled) Oh, here you are, Mary. (Looks at JOHN & MICHAEL) A little less noise there, please!

MRS. DARLING:
What’s the matter, George dear?

MR. DARLING:
Matter? This tie, it will not tie. Not round my neck. Round the bed-post, oh yes; twenty times have I made it up round the bed-post, but round my neck, oh dear no.

(Becoming increasingly dramatic)

I warn you, Mary, that unless this tie is round my neck we don’t go out to dinner tonight. And if I don’t go out to dinner tonight I never go to the office again, and if I don’t go to the office again you and I starve and our children will be thrown out into the streets!

MRS. DARLING:
(Calmly) Let me try, dear.

(MRS. DARLING quickly gets the tie tied)

MR. DARLING:
(Affectionately) Thank you.

(He turns and runs into NANA who is carrying in the children’s toothbrushes)

Owwwww!!!! That DOG!

MICHAEL:
Poor Nana!

(The CHILDREN rush to NANA’s side and pet her while talking to her sweetly. NANA whimpers)

MR. DARLING:
(To the children) Poor Nana? Not, poor father? Your poor father with a hurt knee and hair all over his trousers? (Turns to MRS. DARLING) Nobody coddles me. I’m only the breadwinner, why should I be coddled? Why, why why?

MRS. DARLING:
Oh, George.

MR. DARLING:
Mary, I’ve told you a thousand times that it is a mistake to have a dog for a nurse.

WENDY:
Father, Nana is crying.

MR. DARLING:
She can cry outside where a dog belongs.

(The CHILDREN protest as MR. DARLING takes a barking NANA by the collar and begins dragging her from the room)

Come, Nana, the proper place for you is the yard, and there you go to be tied up this instant.

(MR. DARLING and NANA exit)

MRS. DARLING:
(To the CHILDREN) It’ll be alright, my dears. Your father loves Nana. We’ll sort everything out in the morning. It’s time for bed.

(The CHILDREN sadly go to their beds and MRS. DARLING tucks each one in, starting with WENDY)

NANA:
(From offstage) Woof! Woof!

JOHN:
Poor Nana. She’s so unhappy to be outside.

WENDY:
That is not Nana’s unhappy bark. That is her bark when she smells danger.

MRS. DARLING:
Danger! Are you sure Wendy?

WENDY:
Oh yes.