Welcome as we go beyond the curtain and backstage for the upcoming 2026–27 pantomime season with a brand new series of interviews!
In this interview series, we'll sit down with the dames, heroes, villains, and creatives who transform classic fairy tales into the festive magic we all know and love.
In our first interview, we sat down with comedian Kev Orkian who plays Smee in Peter Pan at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe.
What can you tell me about this years panto and the role of Smee?
This years pantomime and any pantomime production, has a responsibility to entertain, bring the magic and tell a story that takes the audience to a magical world of fun and frolics....smee is one of the best characters to play in Pantomime, working for Captain Hook, he is always having fun with the audience, to outsmarting hook at times without even realising!
Smee is a character who bridges the gap between the villainous Captain Hook and the audience—how do you approach balancing his pirate mischief with making him genuinely lovable to the crowd?
It’s a fun character, as long as you play him for what the character is, which is a fun loving pirate to a softy at times, then you can see the diversity of one character on stage.
This year, you're working alongside La Voix at the Wycombe Swan; how will sharing the stage with a strong comedic performer influence your approach to live improvisation and scene pacing?
When you perform with other comic actors on stage, it’s about respecting the script and the talent you are performing with. La Voix has been in the business for a long time, so playing off one another will be a joy.
How do you prepare ahead of pantomime season, both physically and mentally?
I prepare for my annual pantomime schedule with discipline. Exercise is something I do most days, so stretching and prepping is the norm for me. As for mentally preparing, when you have done as many Pantomimes as I have been blessed with, you learn that pacing yourself and focusing on making the show the best you can make it, is ultimately your main responsibility.
What are your own favourite panto memories, either from performing or as an audience?
One of my favourite moments was watching Dame Edna, perform to the audience with a signer on the far left of the stage. The routine he started was so funny, that even the signer gave up and laughed out loud....legend....the other would be, when I threw 5 toilet rolls into the audience and it landed on the lights above the crowd below and suddenly caught fire, we never did that again!
Having performed in decades of pantomimes alongside a huge range of British stars, what keeps the festive season fresh for you year after year?
The new talent that comes through. It’s keeping our aged old traditions of pantomime alive through new blood, seeing Pantomimes going from strength to strength is a joy.
 |
| Photo by Neil Marshment Photography |
What is the absolute worst piece of advice Smee could give the Lost Boys about surviving in Neverland?
“If you get lost, just ask the nice man with the hook for directions. He’s very handy.”
Audience interaction is central to panto, but live reactions from children can be completely unpredictable—what is the secret to handling unexpected moments on stage while keeping the show on track?
Take every moment as a blessing. Whatever happens on stage, creates a moment that might be unforgettable.
If instead of giving our flyers for the show, what show themed prop would you use to sell the show to audiences?
Bandanas, with WE LOVE SMEE on them!
What would you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
A memory that makes them forget the world outside for a short moment and creates a magical world where everything is just amazing.
Peter Pan runs at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe from Friday 11th December 2026 until Sunday 3rd January 2027. For tickets and more information, visit https://trafalgartickets.com/wycombe-swan-theatre/en-GB/event/pantomime/peter-pan-tickets
Post a Comment