Treasure Island is arguably one of the greatest works of storytelling in the English language. It developed from an imaginary map that Stevenson and his stepson Lloyd Osbourne had devised on holiday and this goes some way towards explaining the book's appeal among children. The tale is the archetypal nineteenth century ripping yarn, set in the “golden age of piracy.” Our narrator is Jim Hawkins, son of a guesthouse owner on the west coast of England sometime in the early eighteenth century. To the inn come firstly an old buccaneer who has a map of Captain Flint's treasure, and secondly a group of pirates under the command of ominous blind man Pew. Jim Hawkins, in an act of bravery and cunning, gets hold of the map before this rabid mob gets it. He delivers the map to Squire Trelawney, and together they set off for Treasure Island in the Squire's schooner. The rest of the crew, apart from Dr Livesey, are selected by Long John Silver. The latter and his men try to mutiny and get hold of the treasure themselves but Jim intervenes and through a series of enthralling adventures we find ourselves on Treasure Island with the marooned Ben Gunn and ever closer to the treasure itself.

The auditorium of the Rose is changed into a pirates' paradise (set design – Paul Wills) complete with treasure map, anchors, boats, fishing nets, ropes, and a treasure chest. The floor is transformed into the ocean by the beautiful lighting (designed by Ben Ormerod) and the sound of waves crashing against the shore. There are many cheerful seafaring songs in the show including What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor, 15 Men on the Dead Man’s Chest, The Good Ship Hispaniola, and the highly addictive tune Treasure Island Bound which set the right mood for this great swashbuckling adventure.  There are good performances throughout - Harry McEntire plays an endearing Jim Hawkins, Richard Bremmer convinces as the charismatic Long John Silver, and Daniel Goode provides the comic element of the show as the hilarious but touching Squire Trelawny.

This show is great fun and a Christmas treat for the whole family!         

11 December - 9 January
Tickets £7 - £29.50
Box office: 0871 230 1552
© Rose Theatre - Kingston 2008. 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL

Peter Hall sets this successful revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s  social comedy “Bedroom Farce” in the 1970s – a distant age without mobile phones, ipods or even the internet. Three bedrooms, side by side, fill the Rose Theatre stage and allow us a peep into the lives of four married couples.

The elderly couple Delia (Jane Asher) and Ernest (Nicholas Le Prevost) are getting ready for their yearly dinner at a fancy restaurant.  Delia tries to discuss their son Trevor’s marital problems but Ernest is more interested in the leaky roof.  Jan (Lucy Briers) is off to a housewarming party whilst her husband Nick (Tony Gardner) is grounded with a bad back.  Malcolm (Daniel Betts) and Kate (Finty Williams) are playing childish pranks on each other whilst waiting for their first guests to arrive. Chaotic Trevor (Orlando Seale) and his unstable wife Susannah embark on a journey of destruction by successfully ruining their party with a savage fight culminating in Trevor kissing Jan. A distraught Susannah disrupts Delia’s and Ernest’s romantic dinner in bed and Trevor rushes to Jan only to fall asleep on Nick’s bed, making Nick’s night pure agony.

Prepare yourself for a highly entertaining evening with an outstanding cast in Ayckbourn’s exploration of marriage and beyond.

The Rose Theatre, Kingston

1 Oct – 28 Nov 2009

See Tickets - 0871 230 1552

www.rosetheatrekingston.org