The Theatre Chipping Norton sets sail at Christmas 2016 with a charismatic twist on the Daniel Defoe classic Robinson Crusoe and the Pirate Queen.
Strapping hero Robinson Crusoe sets off to find a stash of long-lost treasure. Accompanied by the crew of the Saucy Nancy, his mum Cammie and a host of colourful characters, Crusoe must find the treasure before it reaches the evil clutches of pirate queen Betty Babcock and her band of pillaging pirates.
There will be a few familiar faces from Chipping Norton’s previous pantos. Craig Rhys Barlow who was last seen at the Oxfordshire theatre in 2011 as Ali Baba plays Robinson Crusoe. Andrew Pepper who was in Robin Hood in 2015 is back for his second year as dame, playing Crusoe’s mum Cammie.
Emilia Williams returns as Polly Perkins along with Robert Maskell as Captain Wallace Windblower. Both were previously at Chipping Norton in Mother Goose in 2014. Jessica Dyas is Saucy Nancy and appeared in Jack and the Giant in 2013. New faces are Kali Hughes as the villain Betty Babcock and Jean-Luke Worrell as Man Friday.
The theatre’s artistic director John Terry directs the production which has been written by Andrew Pollard. Music is by Ollie Birch, set design by Russell Craig and costume design by Emily Stuart. Andrew Hopkins is musical director, John Bishop is lighting designer and movement director is Sally Brookes.
Robinson Crusoe and the Pirate Queen runs at the Theatre Chipping Norton from Tuesday 15 November until Sunday 8 January.