These shorts, with shirt, tights and boots, were part of a costume worn by the British actress Zena Dare (1885-1975) as Peter Pan. Zena Dare's first stage appearance was in pantomime aged 12. She went on to make her name in musical comedy, having been engaged by George Edwardes to play three leading roles at the Prince of Wales Theatre - first in Lady Madcap in 1904 and then in The Little Cherub and A Girl on the Stage in 1906. She wore this costume when she was nineteen, starring in Charles Frohman’s first regional production of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan which opened at the Prince’s Theatre Manchester on 27 December 1906, and in which she subsequently toured in the UK, until May 1907. This production ran concurrently with Frohman's second London revival of the play at the Duke of York’s Theatre, starring Pauline Chase as Peter.

Charles Frohman (1856-1915) was the producer of the first production of Peter Pan which opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre on, 27 December 1904, with Nina Boucicault in the title role. Although the boots in this costume were made for Zena Dare, as the inscription on the lining indicates, it is possible that they, and other parts of the costume, were worn by other actresses since the costume would probably have belonged to the wardrobe of Frohman’s company. Photographs of various actresses playing Peter show a variety of costume, including almost identical boots worn by Unity More in the London production at the New Theatre in 1916, as well as several versions of the side-laced chamois leather shorts.