Peter Pan and GOSH

The story of Peter Pan created by J.M. Barrie has dazzled readers and theatregoers around the world since the early 20^th century. Put on some fairy dust and fly to Neverland to explore more about the history behind this enchanting tale and the relationship between the playwright and the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK.

The History of Peter Pan

Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie first created the character of Peter Pan for a novel published in 1902, The Little White Bird. He further developed the character in his 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, often known simply as Peter Pan (US/UK). Described as a spontaneous, mischievous little boy who can fly and will never grow up, Peter is the leader of the Lost Boys. He spends his endless childhood having adventures on the legendary island of Neverland, where he interacts with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and – occasionally – children from the outside world.

It’s possible that Barrie drew inspiration for Peter Pan from his older brother David, who passed away in an ice-skating accident the day before he turned 14. His brother and mother believed that he would always be a boy. The Llewelyn Davies family also had a big influence on Barrie’s creation of the characters from the novel and play. Barrie met the family in Kensington Gardens in 1897, after he moved to London upon completion of his studies at the University of Edinburgh. He befriended the three eldest Llewelyn Davies boys – George, age five; Jack, age four; and baby Peter – and their parents, Sylvia and Arthur. Tragically, when their boys were still young, Sylvia and Arthur passed away from cancer. Despite being separated from his wife Mary, Barrie took on the role of guardian and raised the boys as his own.

The play premiered at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End on 27 December 1904. One year later, a production was performed on Broadway. Barrie subsequently adapted the play into the 1907 novel with illustrations The Peter Pan Picture Book, and the novel under the name Peter Pan and Wendy was published in 1915.

The popularity of the play soared thereafter through new adaptations of pantomimes, stage musicals, television specials and movies (including the 1953 Disney animated film). There was even a live themed ice-skating show in the mid-1970s. While pantomime variations of the play are regularly presented around Christmas, the original version of the play is now rarely seen on stage in the United Kingdom. The 1954 musical version by Moose Charlap, Jule Styne, Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, which gained popularity on television, has likewise eclipsed the original version in the United States.

J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan & Copyright

After his studies in Edinburgh, J.M. Barrie moved to London, where he lived behind Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). During this time, he became a supporter of the hospital. He gifted the rights to his play Peter Pan to the GOSH Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) in 1929 in a transaction known as ‘The Peter Pan Gift’. Barrie was a longtime supporter of the hospital, and his assignment of rights provided a regular revenue stream for the children’s charity, which it continues to do today.

The copyright of Peter Pan first expired in the UK (and the rest of Europe) in 1987, 50 years after Barrie’s death. However, due to an amendment to the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, GOSHCC were granted the unique right to royalties from stage performances of Peter Pan (and any adaptation of the play) as well as from publications, audio books, ebooks, radio broadcasts and films of the story of Peter Pan, in perpetuity.

Peter Pan therefore remains protected by copyright law in perpetuity in the United Kingdom.

Because of this, every production of Peter Pan in the UK helps fund life-saving medical equipment for seriously ill children and provides support for their families.

Great Ormond Street Hospital first opened its doors on Valentine’s Day in 1852 with just 10 beds. Now, it’s one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals and home to vital advancements in paediatric medicine and care. The hospital charity funds in-hospital play teams, music therapy, art and entertainment programmes. It also offers family support, like free home-from-home accommodation near the hospital, and a multi-faith chaplaincy service. With this support, GOSH can go above and beyond for seriously ill children. This allows kinder and better treatments, bringing hope for children with the rarest and most complex illnesses, making hospital a little bit easier and a lot more fun for the thousands of children who are treated here every year.

At the hospital, visitors can find several tributes to Barrie and his work, including a bronze statue of Peter Pan and Tinker Bell outside the hospital entrance, a plaque dedicated to Barrie in the hospital chapel (unveiled in 1938 by writer J.B. Priestley) and a Tinker Bell-themed play area in the hospital.

Peter Pan is now out of copyright in all other territories including the United States, so a royalty is not due, but we do strongly suggest that those staging a production choose to make a donation to GOSHCC independently. This extraordinary hospital has always depended on charitable support to go above and beyond for seriously ill children. And they depend on you to make it happen.

For more information on Peter Pan, visit Concord Theatricals in the US or UK. Any queries relating to publishing, presentations in other media, or any other general enquires relating to Peter Pan should be directed to peterpan@gosh.org.