Q&A With Emma Bailey

Peter Pan Features All-New Sets and Costumes by Emma Bailey

Texas Ballet Theater’s upcoming production of Peter Pan reimagines the beloved tale with a bold vision. Featuring all-new sets and costumes by award-winning designer Emma Bailey, best known for her work on the Tony Award-winning Six: The Musical, this visually stunning production breathes new life into J.M. Barrie’s timeless adventure in Neverland.

Sets and costumes play a central role in transporting audiences from the familiar streets of London to the vibrant, fantastical world of Neverland. We spoke with Bailey to learn more about her inspiration, creative process, and the magic behind the stage.

TBT: What was your initial inspiration when designing the world of Peter Pan for the stage?

Bailey: I started by digging into the world of children’s storybooks at the turn of the century. Beautiful Victorian and Edwardian illustrations formed the basis of a lot of my research for the first act of Peter Pan. I love the use of line and color but also the period-specific nod. Transporting us from the illustrative world of London to Neverland meant a visual journey from the 2D to the hyperreal fantasy. I was particularly drawn to heightened colors and exaggerated forms for the second act and to play with childlike imagination. I looked at a lot of festivals and places that allow freedom of expression.

TBT: You designed both the sets and costumes for this production. How did those two creative processes influence each other?

Hugely! Crafting something unique for very iconic characters went hand-in-hand with thinking about what world they would live in. Peter Pan is such a famous figure, everybody has an image in their mind of him. We wanted to ask, “How could we make him speak to a modern young audience, and what island would he live on with his Lost Boys?” On the flip side, the music for Trey’s beautiful choreography required a timeless and elegant look. We allowed the costumes to speak to the beautiful Victorian silhouettes of the period and then designed the set to provide sensitive, scenic framing.

TBT: Peter Pan is such an iconic story. How did you balance honoring the classic elements with bringing a fresh perspective?

Luckily, the show is split into two quite different halves, London and Neverland. This provided opportunity to depict the classic Victorian city against the wild colorful island. We kept the framing of the period across both halves but played with a more modern Neverland representation. Using costumes, we could bleed across both using iconic silhouettes with more modern fabrics and details and vice versa.

TBT: Can you describe a favorite costume or scenic element that audiences should look out for and what makes it special to you?

I love the moment when the clouds appear, and the skyline of London is revealed. The synchronicity of the flying performers, flying scenery, and the magical lighting is a really special end to Act I. Another favorite moment is the flying beast with a beautiful costume and truly magical reveal. We spent a longtime sampling iridescent fabrics and furs and capturing the essence of our Neverland version. She has stunning hand painted wings by our talented dyer Sheila. She appears right at the top of Act II and is gone in a flash. Keep your eyes peeled!

TBT: Were there particular challenges in designing costumes and sets for Peter Pan?

The challenge is always to allow clear storytelling whilst harnessing stage magic. We had to accommodate the flying machinery with plenty of space but also disguise the more prosaic elements of health and safety. I hope we allow the audience to be swept up in the story without noticing any earthbound limitations.

Get tickets now to see TBT’s production of Peter Pan at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas September 19–21 and at Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth October 3–5. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the TBT Box Office at 877-828-9200. This performance is for audiences of all ages to rediscover the magic, joy, and awe that live inside us all.