WOKINGHAM Theatre’s February production promises audiences an adventure on the open sea.
Treasure Island is a dramatic tale of pirates and buried gold, a classic coming-of-age story in which young Jim Hawkins leaves his mother’s home at the Admiral Benbow Inn, to begin a life of adventure.
Youngsters with a thirst for adventure should be gripped by the tale, adapted for the stage by Stuart Paterson.
It was originally written by Robert Louis Stevenson in serialised form between 1881 and 1882 for a children’s magazine, Young Folks, and has fascinated young readers since.
It follows Jim’s journey into adult hood, as, armed with nothing but Billy Bones’ treaure map, he sets off in search of an island where X marks the spot.
The sea is calling when one-legged Long John Silver and his raggedy crew of pigtailed sailors hoists the main sail of the Hispaniola.
With Silver as his greatest friend, young Jim feels safe, but the pirate hides a shocking secret, and on reaching the island destination, the youngster faces danger, pulled as he is into an adventure greater than he could have imagined.
Treasure Island boasts a cast of twenty five young actors, all members of Wokingham Theatre’s Young People’s Theatre.
Audiences, whether young, or simply young at heart, can expect dramatic sword fights between swarthy pirates, and ‘pieces of eight’ from Long John Silver’s squawking parrot, Captain Flint.
Sea shanties are sung, and jigs are danced, and for added dramatic effect the production even has a huge wooden ship, created by the theatre’s in-house crew of set builders.
The actors, aged 11 to 18, have been working with director Indigo Hogg since September, on their tale of ruthless cut-throats.
She said: “It’s been a delight to work with these young people.
“I chose the play for them because it’s a well known classic, and I knew that its fights, roguery, and intrigues would be great fun for them to work with.
“And there were lots of parts, with something for everyone.
“We gave our building team quite a challenge when we asked them for a full-sized ship, but as usual, they have come up trumps with an amazing set.
“I don’t think the actors realised quite how big the ship is until they climbed into it – but they love it, and it adds so much.”
Fans of Treasure Island can expect all the atmosphere and drama of this exciting seafaring adventure, in a show that remains faithful to Stevenson’s original.
The event can be seen at Wokingham Theatre, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 15, 16, and 17.
Doors open at 7.45pm, on all three nights, with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.
Tickets cost £11, and £6.50 for 16s and under.
For tickets and information, visit: www.wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
