Some Surprising Facts about J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan

J. M Barrie (9th May 1860 – 19th June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered today as the writer who brought us Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up.

After being born and educated in Scotland, Barrie moved to London where he wrote more plays and novels. It was here he met the Llewelyn Davies boys who inspired him to write about a baby boy who has magical adventures in Kensington Gardens (The Little White Bird), and to write Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, a fairy play about an ageless boy and an ordinary girl named Wendy.

Today it’s Peter Pan we’re looking at more closely as we share with you some surprising facts about the boy who wouldn’t grow up.

Peter Pan was a play before it was a novel

On 27th December 1904 the first stage version of Peter Pan opened at the Duke of York’s theatre in London to rave reviews. The play was so popular it was re-staged every year for the next ten years. In 1911 it was adapted into the novel Peter and Wendy.

Fairy Dust was added later to protect children

In the original play Peter Pan and the Lost Boys could fly unaided but the reports of children hurting themselves attempting to fly from their beds kept appearing, and so J. M Barrie added Fairy Dust as a necessity to flying.

J. M Barrie is responsible for the Wendy House

And the popularisation of the name Wendy! The first Wendy House appeared on stage in 1904 as part of the play because Barrie needed a house that could be build quickly as these lyrics were sang “I wish I had a darling house, The littlest ever seen, with funny little red walls, and roof of mossy green”.

Disney made Peter Pan Green

Although always in muted shades, Peter Pan originally wore auburns, tans and browns. Disney dressed him all in green and that image stuck forever.

Captain Hook went to Eton School

In the original play Hook’s last words are “Floreat Etona”, the Eton motto, Barrie confirmed his attendance in a lecture about the character.

Captain Hook knew Long John Silver

This seems impossible as both characters are from different novels by different authors. However, J. M Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson were friends, hence the crossover.

Barrie gave all the rights to Great Ormond Street Hospital

This means that since Barrie’s death in 1937, every time the play is produced, Great Ormond Street Hospital receive the royalties. It should be known that Disney has entered into legal challenges with the hospital over the rights.