Lumley believes that the new attraction will help to nurture future generations of creative young minds
Actress Joanna Lumley has given her patronage to a Peter Pan-themed literary visitor attraction, which is set to open next year, turning a “forgotten corner of Scotland” into a major tourist destination.
Located in Dumfries and Galloway, the historic Moat Brae house is undergoing a major redevelopment to transform it into a national centre for children’s literature and storytelling.
Included in the plans will be interactive displays and exhibits designed to entertain and educate families. The centre will also host workshops, artists and writers in residence, giving visitors the chance to meet different authors and creatives.
The house was the inspiration for Peter Pan, the novel and play created by JM Barrie, who as a child would spend time in the gardens of Moat Brae “playing pirates”. The author and playwright called the house a “sort of Odyssey that was long afterwards to inspire the play of Peter Pan”.
As part of the restoration, the gardens are being landscaped to become a Neverland Discovery Garden.
Set to open in 2019 and expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors in its first five years of operation, Lumley – who boasts an acting career spanning nearly five decades, with roles in films and television shows such as The New Avengers, Absolutely Fabulous and most recently Paddington 2 – has thrown her weight behind the project, acting as the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust’s patron.
“I loved the idea of a centre for children’s literature and storytelling in the house where JM Barrie first imagined the adventures he would use to create one of the most popular stories ever written,” Lumley tells Attractions Management.
“The Moat Brae project matters on many levels. Dumfries and the wider region have had a tough time economically for many years and a new international visitor attraction will make a valuable contribution to all the regeneration work taking place. It’s a very beautiful part of Britain and once people discover it they often return.”
The Trust was established in 2009, saving the Georgian-era property, which was just three days away from being demolished when it was taken over by the group. Plans were then made to develop the historic location as the country’s first centre for children’s literature, with Lumley helping to raise £6.1m (US$8m) of the £8m (US$10.4m) needed for the full restoration.
“Over the years, my involvement has involved lots of different things, many of them great fun,” says Lumley. “For example, we organised a fundraiser in London with British actor and comedian David Walliams, where we answered questions and talked about his children’s books to a theatre full of young people.
“I’ve also made videos, spent time meeting people all round Dumfries and Galloway, done a fair few photo shoots and interviews to show how the project has been progressing.
“Ultimately my role is to focus attention on the really important things – the efforts being made by staff and volunteers at Moat Brae to create something that’ll be very special in the lives of generations of children.”
As the birthplace of Peter Pan, the building and its gardens have a significant place in literary history. For Lumley, though it’s not just about the past, but also the future – the house will act as a place of inspiration for young people who are interested in the creative realms of writing, acting and art.
“Moat Brae will give children and young people access to a whole new world of stories and creativity,” she says. “While JM Barrie and Peter Pan are very important, this historic location goes far beyond that one story and is about so much more.
“One of our key aims is to have the centre introduce children to tales from all sorts of different times and cultures. Something that has really impressed me is the way it’s bringing together writers, poets, illustrators and others from all over the country and beyond. Many of the activities are also being shaped by young people themselves.
“Firing young imaginations is enormously important and that’s what Moat Brae is all about,” she says. “The more we can ignite a love of stories in young people, the better. It’s by doing this that we will nurture the next generation of readers, writers, illustrators, actors, games designers and other creative adults.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 4
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
Lumley believes that the new attraction will help to nurture future generations of creative young minds
Actress Joanna Lumley has given her patronage to a Peter Pan-themed literary visitor attraction, which is set to open next year, turning a “forgotten corner of Scotland” into a major tourist destination.
Located in Dumfries and Galloway, the historic Moat Brae house is undergoing a major redevelopment to transform it into a national centre for children’s literature and storytelling.
Included in the plans will be interactive displays and exhibits designed to entertain and educate families. The centre will also host workshops, artists and writers in residence, giving visitors the chance to meet different authors and creatives.
The house was the inspiration for Peter Pan, the novel and play created by JM Barrie, who as a child would spend time in the gardens of Moat Brae “playing pirates”. The author and playwright called the house a “sort of Odyssey that was long afterwards to inspire the play of Peter Pan”.
As part of the restoration, the gardens are being landscaped to become a Neverland Discovery Garden.
Set to open in 2019 and expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors in its first five years of operation, Lumley – who boasts an acting career spanning nearly five decades, with roles in films and television shows such as The New Avengers, Absolutely Fabulous and most recently Paddington 2 – has thrown her weight behind the project, acting as the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust’s patron.
“I loved the idea of a centre for children’s literature and storytelling in the house where JM Barrie first imagined the adventures he would use to create one of the most popular stories ever written,” Lumley tells Attractions Management.
“The Moat Brae project matters on many levels. Dumfries and the wider region have had a tough time economically for many years and a new international visitor attraction will make a valuable contribution to all the regeneration work taking place. It’s a very beautiful part of Britain and once people discover it they often return.”
The Trust was established in 2009, saving the Georgian-era property, which was just three days away from being demolished when it was taken over by the group. Plans were then made to develop the historic location as the country’s first centre for children’s literature, with Lumley helping to raise £6.1m (US$8m) of the £8m (US$10.4m) needed for the full restoration.
“Over the years, my involvement has involved lots of different things, many of them great fun,” says Lumley. “For example, we organised a fundraiser in London with British actor and comedian David Walliams, where we answered questions and talked about his children’s books to a theatre full of young people.
“I’ve also made videos, spent time meeting people all round Dumfries and Galloway, done a fair few photo shoots and interviews to show how the project has been progressing.
“Ultimately my role is to focus attention on the really important things – the efforts being made by staff and volunteers at Moat Brae to create something that’ll be very special in the lives of generations of children.”
As the birthplace of Peter Pan, the building and its gardens have a significant place in literary history. For Lumley, though it’s not just about the past, but also the future – the house will act as a place of inspiration for young people who are interested in the creative realms of writing, acting and art.
“Moat Brae will give children and young people access to a whole new world of stories and creativity,” she says. “While JM Barrie and Peter Pan are very important, this historic location goes far beyond that one story and is about so much more.
“One of our key aims is to have the centre introduce children to tales from all sorts of different times and cultures. Something that has really impressed me is the way it’s bringing together writers, poets, illustrators and others from all over the country and beyond. Many of the activities are also being shaped by young people themselves.
“Firing young imaginations is enormously important and that’s what Moat Brae is all about,” she says. “The more we can ignite a love of stories in young people, the better. It’s by doing this that we will nurture the next generation of readers, writers, illustrators, actors, games designers and other creative adults.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 4
Rides: Themed dreams
We take a look at some of the major
openings at visitor attractions worldwide
Theme Parks: Fan power
Jordan Middleton explains how operators
can best work with their audiences
Tourism: The Tourist Trap
What role could attractions play to keep
tourism beneficial for residents and
visitors alike? Kath Hudson reports
Conference: Creativity Cocktail
This year’s SATE conference came to the global epicentre for themed entertainment – Orlando – as the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) searched for the secrets to “The Experience Recipe”.
Promotional feature: Whitewater
WhiteWater is branching out of the waterpark business as it
introduces two new attractions products and its brand new
Vantage guest engagement and management software
Show report: Enabling fun
Tom Anstey was on-hand to see what was
on offer at this year’s Euro Attractions Show
Promotional feature: Simtec - forward thinking
Simtec is a flying theatre and simulator ride supplier
for the attractions industry, as well as a manufacturer
of driving and flight simulation applications
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
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