20,000 Leagues under the Sea- at Hull Truck Theatre

The Hull Truck Theatre from May 27 to June 19 at 7.30pm.

To book tickets, call the box office on 01482 323638 or visit www.hulltrucktheatre see Map

A terrifying and wondrous adventure novel when it first appeared in 1869 written by Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues under the sea is imaginatively adapted and directed on the Hull Truck Stage by John Godber and after Tuesdays theatrical, almost vaudeville like musical performance promises to entice in and charm audiences.

The story follows the adventures of Professor Aronnax wonderfully portrayed as a rarefied academic adventurer by Joshua Richards, his unrequited doting female assistant Conseil played energetically by Heather Peace and Whaler man of action Ned Land a physical realist, played with strong ironic humour by Jack Brady . Whilst searching for a huge sea monster aboard a whaler, led by Captain Farragut played by Kim Hardy, they are thrown overboard and unexpectedly rescued by the submarine Nautilus and Captain Nemo, the manically tortured genius raging at humanity played with fiery passion by William Ilkley.

(Pictures by Karl Andre Photography).

They reluctantly join the crew and travel round the world experiencing danger, wonder and adventure. The story explores interlocking themes through strong narrative, music and songs composed by Stuart Briner and the characters precise often witty dialogue; the uses of science, world terrorism, redistribution of wealth, love, passions lost and unrequited and the claustrophobia of being contained in a small space deep under the sea.

The story starts on the stage of Madame Simone’s, played by Sue Appleby, scientific society where Professor Aronnax starts to tell his story to his audience, quickly the scenes, costumes and set designed by Pip Leckenby and built by Graham Kirk change and transform with subtle changes of light, floor map, ship decks, the Nautilus and the sea floor as the action of the story progresses. And the whole movement of the sea is suggested and inveigled by the subtle sometimes humorous choreography of movement by the characters throughout the play.

The songs and music by Stuart Briner and musically directed by Sue Appleby cleverly create mood and scene as well as help the narrative along with good voice harmonies from the cast.

The romance between Professor Aronnax and Conseil perhaps didn't quite work on this performance, yet all the ingredients were in place. Conseil (Heather Peace) sang beautifully of her love and frustration. Maybe, like a new wooden ship, this new play will season and mature through its run as the characters explore on stage the subtlety of their human emotions so taking the audiences empathy to the whirring and tragic climax of the play.

This is a very enjoyable and in some ways challenging musical, a classical story yet one that resonates with modern themes. The adventures twist and build to a dramatic climax and could be lost for ever in the deepest seas - so step into the Hull Truck Theatre and be prepared for the terrors of the deep- go on I dare you to.
Andrew Sugden.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea runs at the Hull Truck Theatre from May 27 to June 19 at 7.30pm.

To book tickets, call the box office on 01482 323638 or visit www.hulltrucktheatre

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