Set Sail for Treasure Island this Christmas

Theatre-goers will set sail on a swashbuckling adventure when staff and students from the University of Lincoln, UK, bring their own spectacular interpretation of Treasure Island to the stage.

Creative teams from the University’s Drama, Music and Fashion degree programmes will perform their retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate adventure in the annual Christmas family show at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre. Performed by a cast of final-year Drama students from the University’s School of Fine & Performing Arts, the show will take place in-the-round (on a central stage), placing the audience at the heart of the action.

The cast will raise the curtain to premiere the show on Monday 12th December, before delivering a run of 20 shows in two weeks with the final performance on Christmas Eve. Featuring stunning scenery to immerse the audience in the fantasy world of Treasure Island, the show has been in production since September this year as part of the Theatre for Young Audiences’ module on Lincoln’s BA (Hons) Drama programme.

Staff and students have worked on every component of the production, from set design and lighting to music and choreography, to bring this special adaptation to life. For the first time the production will run alongside a second Christmas performance aimed specifically at younger children who will be able to enjoy a charming snowy adventure full of songs, stories and silliness in Brrr! The Lost Polar Bear.

Treasure Island has been written and directed by Dr Dominic Symonds, Reader in the School of Fine & Performing Arts. He said: “The Christmas show is always the highlight of our year. It’s exciting to be a key part of Lincoln’s Christmas preparations, and the annual show has now become as much of a fixture in Lincoln’s calendar as the Christmas Market, the turning on of the lights and singing carols in the Cathedral.

“Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel has been adapted countless times for theatre, TV and film and it’s a real privilege to be able to bring our version of Treasure Island to the stage. As usual, we’ve been very creative with the telling of the tale, but at the same time we’ve been faithful to the famous characters and the plot. But do they find the treasure? Well you’ll have to come and see the show to find out!”

Artistic Director for Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, Craig Morrow, who has produced Treasure Island and written Brrr! The Lost Polar Bear, added: “The Christmas family show is something staff, students and the local community always look forward to and this year we’ve made it even bigger and better with the addition of another show for younger children. Aimed at children aged three and over, Brrr! The Lost Polar Bear will give families another option this Christmas, complementing the existing festive entertainment on offer around the city.”

Tickets are priced from just £8.50, with family tickets available for both productions. For more information and to book tickets, visit https://lpac.co.uk/whats-on/ or contact the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre on 01522 837600.

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