The premiere of a major new musical based on classic adventure story Moonfleet is set to be one of the highlights of the spring/summer 2018 season at the Salisbury Playhouse.
Based on J Meade Falkner’s Dorset-set story of 18th century smugglers, Moonfleet will feature a book and lyrics by the Playhouse’s artistic director Gareth Machin and music by Russell Hepplewhite.
Running from 19 April until 5 May, the production is supported by Salisbury Playhouse’s newly formed Commissioning Circle. Casting will be announced at a later date.
First published in 1898, Falkner’s Moonfleet has been the source material for various film, radio and television productions dating as far back as the 1950s. The most recent was a Sky TV mini series in 2013 starring Ray Winstone.
The Moonfleet musical will be part of a packed season that includes new comedy Love On the Links, adapted from the golfing stories of PG Wodehouse by Jon Glover and Edward Taylor. The programme also includes Murder, Margaret and Me by Philip Meeks, a co-production with York Theatre Royal inspired by the friendship between Agatha Christie and Margaret Rutherford, the actress who starred as the author’s Miss Marple in a popular series of films.
Other highlights include the new play Hansel by Shiona Morton, the winner of the 2017 Theatre Fest West writer’s prize. Theatre Fest West will return for its seventh year in February 2018 with Salisbury Playhouse again joining forces with Salisbury Arts Centre, the Pound Arts Centre, Corsham and Trowbridge Arts to celebrate theatre from across the South West.
Commenting on the season, Machin said: “Salisbury Playhouse is proud to champion the voice of the South West through the reanimation of existing stories from the region such as Moonfleet and the celebration of new voices such as Shiona Morton’s Hansel. This home-produced work is seen alongside some of the most diverse and talented regional theatre makers who will be visiting Salisbury throughout the season.”
Angela Thomas
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