Staging “Peter Pan,” the next production from BEAT Children’s Theatre, in 2nd Street Theater’s relatively small space is a challenge. Along with battles and other action, the upcoming show based on the novel by J.M. Barrie, includes flight. So co-director Heidi Spiker and the kids in her cast devised a creative solution. Shadow puppets — which would seem to fit since Peter Pan’s shadow seems to have a mind of its own.

Before moving to Bend, Spiker was active in New York theater. She worked with puppeteers on her last production there, “Turning the Glass Around.”

“I was inspired by that show when I was thinking about ‘Peter Pan’ because I was thinking, ‘OK, kids, flying,’ and 2nd Street Theater was just a little bit on the smaller side as far as space to do that kind of thing,” she said. “Shadow puppets kind of made sense to make the scenes work. So I’m excited about that. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun (with) some cool effects, and the kids are helping … to make some of the shadows happen,” Spiker said. As is sometimes the case with BEAT’s shows, “Peter Pan” will be performed by two casts during its mostly sold-out run. Spiker is directing the Neverland cast, while co-director David Purkey leads the Jolly Roger cast.

“David and I really collaborated. It’s wonderful,” she said. “He really took charge of the fight choreography, because there’s quite a few pirate ship fights and Lost Boy and pirate fights in the show.”

Elliana Bowers plays Peter in the Neverland performances — and comes from a gymnastics background, “Which is helpful,” Spiker said. “You’ll see that as part of what we’re doing for the flying.”

In that cast, Madeline Wooster plays archenemy Captain Hook. In the Jolly Roger cast, Adeline Mitchell plays Peter, while Siena Dattke is Hook.

There are a lot of girls in her cast of about 30 kids, Spiker noted — including Lost Boys. “But it’s kind of fun. We don’t cast gender specifically usually, anyway,” she said. “I’m excited for them to get in front of an audience and show the audience what they’re bringing to the characters.”

Besides, there’s a tradition of casting actresses as the boy who never grew up that goes back more than a century, said BEAT executive director Bree Beal. An English actress named Nina Boucicault starred as Peter in 1904, and females have frequently played Peter since, she said.

“However, there is no requirement to do so,” Beal added, “so the director can cast as they see fit.”

Peter, Tinker Bell and the rest of the gang fly in on Nov. 30. Regular performances have sold out: Tickets tend to fly faster when there are two casts, Beal said.

However, never say never where Neverland is involved. There are still tickets available for the two BEAT fundraiser shows on Dec. 6 and 13.