A flying scene from Peter Pan written by James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.

A flying scene from Peter Pan written by the Scottish playwright James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.

George Kirby had worked with the German troupe, the Grigolatis, whose flying effects needed four stage hands to raise and traverse one performer. Kirby was convinced that his system could be less cumbersome and in 1889 developed the first pendulum flying system with quick-release mechanism. One of the earliest productions for which Kirby supplied equipment was J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1904. Audiences were delighted when Wendy and her brothers were able to fly with Peter from their London home to Never Never Land. 

1907 production of Peter Pan, using Kirby’s apparatus.