Members of the Water Rats

Gary Starr
Gary Starr is a British actor, writer, director, producer and creative designer whose career in live entertainment has spanned more than two decades.

As the founder and creative force behind Gary Starr Creative, and the driving passion behind the Neverland Theatre in Skegness, Gary has developed a reputation for original storytelling, imaginative production and creating professional entertainment that remains accessible to audiences of all ages.

Gary’s career began through a lifelong love of theatre, performance and storytelling. Since then, he has worked on hundreds of productions across the United Kingdom as a performer, playwright, director and producer. His work encompasses traditional pantomime, family theatre, original plays, immersive entertainment, scare attractions, digital productions and large-scale events.

In 2014, Gary established the Neverland Theatre, an independent 96-seat venue in Skegness. Created to provide affordable, high-quality entertainment for the local community, the theatre has become a home for pantomime, comedy, drama, music and original family productions.

The following year, he founded Gary Starr Creative, producing fully self-contained touring shows and bespoke entertainment for theatres, schools, shopping centres, wildlife parks, theme parks and visitor attractions throughout the country. The company’s work ranges from traditional theatre productions to specially commissioned shows, promotional content, live attractions and immersive experiences.

Gary has a particular passion for horror and psychological theatre. He has designed and created a wide range of award-winning scare attractions, including Nine Circles, SNAP and Ravenous for Fear Island at Fantasy Island.

His attraction Ravenous was named Best Scare Experience at the 2024 ScareCON Awards, recognising Gary and his team’s theatrical and imaginative approach to immersive horror. His work combines detailed storytelling, dark humour, atmosphere and psychological fear to create experiences that remain with audiences long after they have left.

Gary is also the writer of the psychological horror production Tales in the Darkness, an original theatrical experience created for touring theatres across the United Kingdom.

At the heart of Gary’s work is a strong belief in people, empathy and the importance of creating opportunities. He has supported community and charitable projects through theatre and is committed to encouraging performers, technicians and young creatives within the entertainment profession.

Away from the stage, Gary shares his life with his much-loved huskies, Falcor, Nanook, Ghost and Venom, affectionately known as the “wolfpack.” His long-term ambition is to establish a sanctuary dedicated to the care and rescue of huskies.

Gary is also a Freemason and a proud member of the Grand Order of Water Rats. He has contributed extensively to the Order’s creative, charitable and administrative work, including leading the redevelopment and modernisation of its website and helping to preserve and celebrate its remarkable showbusiness history.

Whether writing a pantomime, building an immersive attraction, directing a theatrical production or developing a complete campaign for a venue, Gary remains a creator in every sense. He believes that imagination, dedication and strong storytelling are more important than spectacle for its own sake.

His personal philosophy is: “Find empathy, love and laugh as much as you can, and never take life too seriously. You’ll never get out alive.”

Through his work in theatre, family entertainment and immersive production, Gary continues to bring joy, fear, laughter and wonder to audiences with originality, integrity and heart.