Paul Bradley is pretty good at being bad.

He has played 'nice' Nigel Bates in the BBC soap EastEnders and caring Elliot Hope in Holby City but now he's horrible Captain Hook at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells.

You could have heard the boos in Chatham as he wheedled out the location of Peter Pan's secret lair from a jealous Tinker Bell, played on roller-skates by an excitably truculent Holly Atterton from Nick Junior's Go! Go! Go!

Lloyd Warbey, who has taken over from Neil Buchanan as presenter of the children's TV show Art Attack, is spot on as Pan with his bravado in the face of piratical attacks and his determination to resist growing up. But it would have been nice to have seen him flying a bit more.

Sarah Jane Buckley, who played crazy Kathy Barnes in C4's Hollyoaks, is excellent as Mrs Darling and the Mermaid and gets a chance to show off her fine voice.

Another good singer is Lacy Jordinson as Indian squaw Tiger Lily. In fact, there are quite a few songs in this production. Even Bradley, who fronts his own band in real life, gets a chance to sing.

Quinn Patrick has returned for the third year running as Dame, this time as Mrs Smee but with only two changes of frock.

He and Bradley manage a number of two-handers. In one exchange Hook tells him: "One of these days I'm going to stick this hook where the sun don't shine."

Smee replies: "Not the Isle of Sheppey?"

Ironically, this is Bradley's first foray into Kent except for childhood holidays on, you guessed it, the Isle of Sheppey with his family.

Jenny Huxley-Golden, who has recorded voice-over work for Legoland Windsor, is Wendy. She is the only other member of the cast allowed to fly but only until she is shot down by one of the Lost Boys.

Her brothers John (in top hat and umbrella) and Michael are played by Harry Gallagher/Piers Irvine and Ricky Delores/Archie de Laroque.

Hook's crew aboard the Jolly Roger turns out to be the excellent comedy acrobats The Nitwits featuring Andrew Rothwell, Clinton Purnell (doubling as Nana the dog) and Jack Robbins.

Grace Beazleigh, making her first professional appearance in her home town, Paige Ellen, Alice Mills and Ailsa Spangler are the Indians and the Lost Boys are provided by All The Arts Theatre School, Associates and Deborah Lamb Theatre School.

After a sensational animated dragon in last year's production of Sleeping Beauty we were disappointed not to see this year's crocodile, due to technical difficulties on the night, but he will be stepping out for the rest of the run.

But there were plenty of other special effects including flashes, sparks, mist and streamers. The show on Sunday was 30 minutes late starting because of "technical problems."

* Peter Pan is produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions by arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Samuel French, in association with the Assembly Hall Theatre. It is directed by John-Jackson (JJ) Almond. Sam Fisher is musical director. It runs to Sunday, January 5. Tickets £20.25 (£17.25 children). See assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or call 01892 530613.

For more Kent panto reviews and theatre news, visit What's On here.