The history of Peter Pan and Great Ormond Street
Find out more about JM Barrie, the man who created Peter Pan, and how his legacy lives on in Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
“Second to the right, and straight on till morning”
Who wrote Peter Pan?
Peter Pan was written by James Matthew Barrie, who was born in Scotland on 9 May 1860.
Barrie penned Peter and Wendy in 1911. It has remained a beloved favourite ever since.
How did JM Barrie support GOSH?
After university, Barrie moved to London, where he lived behind GOSH.
During this time, he became a supporter of the hospital, and in 1929 was asked to sit on a committee to help buy land, so the hospital could build a much-needed new wing.
Barrie turned down this offer but said that he “hoped to find another way to help”.
Two months later, the hospital board was stunned to learn that he’d donated the rights to Peter Pan to GOSH. This gave the hospital the royalties from every production of the play and publication of the book.
A London production of Peter Pan at GOSH on 14 December 1929
This gift continues to benefit the hundreds of seriously ill children and young people who are seen at GOSH every day for life-changing treatment and care.
GOSH has always honoured Barrie’s wishes of never sharing the amount raised for the hospital from Peter Pan royalties.
When was the first Peter Pan play staged?
The first ever stage production of Peter Pan took place at the Duke of York Theatre in London on 27 December 1904. Nina Boucicault starred as Peter and Gerald du Maurier played Captain Hook and Mr Darling.
In 1905, Peter Pan hit Broadway in New York, where Maude Adams took on the role of Peter for more than 10 years.
Nina Boucicault as Peter Pan in the first stage production.
Staging a Peter Pan production?
If you're looking to stage a production of the play (or adaptation) in a theatre or school in the UK or US, contact our theatre agents.
Peter Pan tributes at GOSH
At the hospital, you can find several tributes to Peter Pan and JM Barrie, 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 JB Priestley)
- Tinker Bell play area in Octav Botnar Wing
- A tiled mural created and donated by art students from the University of Wolverhampton
Please note that some memorials aren't accessible to the general public.
Peter Pan on screen
Peter Pan has been adapted for the big screen many times. Paramount released a silent film in 1924, followed by Disney’s animated film in 1953.
If you want to produce a film of Pater Pan please contact Peter.Pan@gosh.org.
Peter Pan in Scarlet
Did you know that there’s a sequel to Peter Pan? Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean was published in 2006 after GOSH Charity put out a worldwide search for an author.
Geraldine McCaughrean was chosen from nearly 200 entries around the world. The book is published by Oxford University Press in the UK and McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster) in the US. It has been published in 40 editions worldwide and translated in 37 languages.
A fully illustrated edition, abridged for younger children, was published in October 2008 by Oxford University Press with stunning artwork by David Wyatt.
