PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL is a jazzy and joyous reimagining of the beloved Gilbert & Sullivan crowd-pleasing classic. Transporting the pirates from Penzance to 1800s New Orleans, this outrageously clever romp sizzles with Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair with brand-new orchestrations as well as a brand-new book by Tony Award® winner Rupert Holmes (CURTAINS). With a tongue-twisting Major General, a rabble-rousing Pirate King, romance, swordplay, wordplay, and off-the-charts fun, there’s a shipload of musical comedy delights on board to dazzle first-timers and Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados alike. Straight from Broadway in Roundabout Theatre’s rousing and rollicking revival, this version is ideal for schools, amateur societies, and professional companies alike, and is certain to delight performers and audiences across whole of the UK.
Genre: Adaptation / Translation
Creditors
CREDITORS is the suspenseful tale of two men who meet at a seaside resort in Sweden—a sculptor and a mysterious stranger—only to discover that they have something unexpected in common; a woman. In Wright’s adaptation of Strindberg’s forgotten masterwork, all three characters engage in a deadly game of wits, opening old wounds and inflicting fresh ones. Written in 1888, the play still bears its ferocious sting, and is reminiscent of the most contemporary erotic thrillers with its blend of toxic desire and wicked intent.
Jane Austen in 39+ Minutes
An abridged version of James’s JANE AUSTEN IN 89 MINUTES with optional scenes to extend its length.
In this uproarious, clever, engaging comedy, narrator Jane Austen and a madcap cast of ladies and gents deliver condensed versions of all six of Jane Austen’s beloved novels at a lightning pace, including modern day zingers about Austen’s fame—and fandom. Jane Austen enthusiasts will be delighted, although no knowledge of her work is required to enjoy the play, which basks in the glory of Austen’s major works, while also poking fun at their pitfalls—a hilarious and loving homage to the celebrated English writer whose insightful wit and romantic stories are treasured across the world today.
Desdemona’s Child
Desdemona’s child comes back to the town in which they were raised, haunted by the ghost of Beautiful D, and with a desire to come to terms with trauma from their past. In this town, trouble rages, as a climate of hate threatens to overtake all. A flood and a whole lotta honest witnessing may start to turn the tide of human darkness. This play is set in modern-day US, freely inspired by and set in the wake of Shakespeare’s Othello.
The Scarlet Letter
A visceral exploration of “original sin,” Kate Hamill’s highly-theatrical, vital reimagining of The Scarlet Letter follows strong-willed, intelligent Hester Prynne as she tries to find her own moral compass and raise her daughter in a society that harshly punishes women for independent thought, sexuality, or defiance. Hester and the other Massachusetts Bay colonists—including her guilt-ridden lover and her estranged husband—struggle with their own deeply-ingrained shame, as they debate what transgressions might truly be “unforgivable”… and learn how violence, superstition, repression, and uncomfortable truths may shape the land that will become America.
The Little Mermaid
Awakened by a thunderstorm in the middle of the night, a family passes the time by weaving their own wonderous and joyful mermaid tale, using comedy, music, and dance to bring the timeless story of love and adventure to life. Hans Christian Andersen’s once cautionary tale about a disobedient girl is transformed into a magical journey that encourages young people to listen to their hearts and choose the right path even when it’s a difficult one.
The Happiest Man On Earth
Eddie Jaku’s story is one of unimaginable grief and tragic loss, yet it is also a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul. Defying all odds, he declared himself “The Happiest Man on Earth,” a testament to his resilience and determination to find light even in the darkest circumstances.
Twelfth Night
Shakespeare’s comedy about the power of love follows twins Viola and Sebastian, who are washed ashore in a strange land after a shipwreck, each thinking the other has perished. Viola disguises herself as a man, to become a servant of the local Duke Orsino. She quickly finds herself in love with this duke, despite being recruited as messenger for his wooing of the countess Olivia. Not only is this wooing unsuccessful, but Olivia falls for the messenger. The subplot involves Olivia’s household revelers, who clash with her stern household steward, Malvolio. The wild knot of misunderstandings is untied at last, once Sebastian arrives on the scene.
Krapp, 39
A voyeuristic prefiguring of Samuel Beckett’s “Krapp’s Last Tape,” and a hilarious and heart-breaking window on the last moments of youth. Reeling on his 39th birthday, an actor’s obsessive identification with Beckett’s famous character compels him to examine his own quixotic life: his fears, his failures, and his search for (and forfeiture of) love, all in preparation to record a version of the 39-year-old Krapp’s soliloquy to be used in an imagined production of “Krapp’s Last Tape” thirty years in the future.
Mr. Dickens’ Hat
On the darkest night of the year—December 21, 1865—a humble Victorian shop becomes the unlikely setting for a thrilling adventure. At its center is the real-life hat of Charles Dickens, once used to carry water to train wreck victims. When two thieves plot to steal the hat, young Kit embarks on an unforgettable journey to stop their scheme and rescue her father from debtors’ prison.
Set in the heart of 19th-century London, MR. DICKENS’ HAT is a witty and heartfelt play-with-songs that blends Dickensian storytelling with playful theatricality. Featuring nine original “Victorian carols” and a diverse cast of colorful characters, it offers a suspenseful, sentimental, and joy-filled tale perfect for winter programming. Not a Christmas show per se—but rich with the warmth, wonder, and generosity audiences seek each December.
The Mole Hill Stories
Based on the work of award-winning children’s author Lois Ehlert, THE MOLE HILL STORIES takes you on a journey with Mole as she discovers, with the help of her friends, that there is more to life than one can see at first glance and that our dreams are within reach if we believe.
The Three Sisters Brontë
Set against the bleak and windy Yorkshire moors in the 1800s, THREE SISTERS BRONTË follows the lives of the Brontë sisters as they struggle to find creative prosperity while navigating the harsh realities of male society. Faced with limited opportunities for scholarly women, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne live in the rich worlds of their imaginations, dreaming of life in London, until they are forced to face the truth that nothing is certain, and their destinies are best served when held firmly in their own hands. As their brother Branwell descends into madness and their father grows blind, the three sisters must find a way to make their own living in an era when men of means asked “the woman question”: what does society do with educated unmarried women? Inspired by THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov, who reportedly read THE LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË a few years earlier before his play opened, THREE SISTERS BRONTË explores the parallels in the lives of the real life Brontës and the fictional Prozorovs.