What you saw as you entered the theatre was the back of a very large TV but that was nothing to the surprise that was to come. As the story unfolded on the screen the cutlass swinging pirate band invaded the auditorium "looking for the boy".  We knew then that we would be involved in an all action production.

Opening in the "Admiral Benbow Inn” we are introduced to Jim Hawkins (played on Friday by Raphael von Blumenthal), the villainous Black Dog (Colin Fish) and the drunken Billy Bones (Paul Philpott) who has that map which he is able to pass to Jim for safe keeping. Add in Blind Pew (Mike Milne) and his gang and the gentry, Squire Trelawney (Nick Warburton) and Dr Livesey (Hugh Mellor) and the plot starts. Move to "The Spyglass Inn” and we meet two other important characters Long John Silver (Guy Holmes) and Captain Flint (Ringo) the real live parrot who I understand on some nights remembered most of his lines. We then went on board the "Hispaniola" to see Captain Smollett (Malcolm Underwood) inspecting his crew and his employers. Finally we arrive at the Island and discover Ben Gunn (Colin Fish) who has already discovered the treasure making the map useless. Written like this makes the play sound bland  - it was anything but.

 The sets designed by Tony Broscomb were ingenious but the Hispaniola was just brilliant, with mast, wheel, bridge deck, below deck cabins, rigging and steps. There were some problems with acting behind the mast and the wheel but very good use was made of the cabins and steps. The only thing I thought it lacked was a bell, which might have given an effect of the long passing of time on board. The Inns and the stockade had to be moved easily so lacked some rigidity and they took some knocks with the fights.  The island was created by the use of two drops, which again created the right visual impression. The sets were enhanced by all the appropriate props. The effects were well presented with the storm and its lightning and thunder were very realistic.