‘Rebel Harbour’ – Gala Opening Night. 

Shanty Theatre Company, Friday 7th July, Marine Theatre.

Shanty Theatre Company are here again, stirring up locals and visitors alike with their historytelling and music which is focussed on their new show ‘Rebel Harbour’, but spills out into the streets, pubs, residential homes, beach…  anywhere they happen to be, and this year they are running the Lyme Youth Theatre Summer School as well!

The Gala Opening Night of ‘Rebel Harbour’ last Friday was attended by an enthusiastic audience including invited guests from Lyme Regis Town Council, West Dorset District Council, and local organisations.

The central plot of ‘Rebel Harbour’, based on the famous Siege of Lyme, concerns the final attack by the Cavaliers led by Maurice on the people of Lyme.  Esther, yearning to be a reporter, infiltrates the enemy line, discovers the time of the proposed attack and returns home with her news.   Forewarned is forearmed and Lyme wins the day! 

But there is so much more to it than this… the sadness of unrequited love, the bizarre tale of the boy who ran away to live with wild dogs, the Town Council meeting (yes, really), preparations for the Fete of Lyme, and some surprises…

Five actors make up the enthusiastic and talented cast, and between them they play all the parts, and, in a clever piece of theatre staging, they even bring to life the Cavalier attacks!  Jack Beale as Walter Erle, and David John Watton as Crawley return to Shanty, and Hannah Emmanuel as Mary, Francesca Loren as Esther, and Ewan Wardrop as James/Maurice, are newcomers.   All of them, despite their youth, have illustrious credits to their names. 

Stu Mcloughlin, composer and musical director, has excelled this year -   with folk and blues to classical coloratura, and just a touch of Kool and the Gang!   The cast have fine voices and expertise on more than just the promised ukuleles – it’s a musical feast!

Trudi Molloy designed the ingenious set - costumes, musical instruments, and lanterns are hung on ropes in front of a rich multi-coloured fabric backdrop.  Costumes are carefully designed to enable the actors to change in seconds, and, with gentle lighting, the theatre feels cosy and welcoming. 

‘Rebel Harbour’ is written and devised by the company, and directed by Sarah Tipple and Marigold Hughes.  Tim Bell and Harry Long who had the original idea for Shanty’s summer season while lying on sunny Lyme Regis beach in 2007 are Creative Producers.

‘Rebel Harbour’ is the family show in which ‘Horrible Histories’ meets ‘Blackadder’ and even if you haven’t heard of either of these, you will have a truly memorable time – it’s lively, it’s funny, there’s some local history, the music is great, and it finishes in time for a drink, or bedtime!  Nightly at 7.30 (except Fridays), 2.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays – tickets from the TIC 01297 442138 or from the Theatre Box Office before the performance. 

Oh…  and the Summer School (ages 8 – 16) starts on 17th and on 24th –  skills, fun, performance - and there are still some places.   Don’t miss out!

View from Lyme Regis, 12th August 2009