CARIBBEAN PIRATES AT THE POLLY WOODSIDE Begins Next Month in Melbourne

The brain-child of 2014 Melbourne Award Winner Glenn Elston with live music written and composed by the mischievous Arky Elston, Caribbean Pirates at the Polly Woodside (5-24 January 2015) is rambunctious theatre at it's best.

Harking back to playful pantomimes of old, all the action takes place on and around the historic 1885 tall Polly Woodside ship at Melbourne's South Wharf.

Complete with live musical instruments, rope swinging, barrel hiding and real-life plank walking, this interactive quest sees small audience members transform into pirate explorers, treasure hunters and all-round rowdy scallywags.

This summer Doru Surcel, who also plays Captain Cutthroat himself, comes on board (walks the plank) as Director of this teeming team of triple-threat buccaneers. A Transylvanian-Australian and accomplished theatre educator, Doru plans to draw on the directorial skills of Captain Cutthroat.

"Avaste ye! Just watch me flip this lump of landlubbers into ship-shape! They'll be scrubbing the poo deck before they disobey me - 'else they'll find themselves in Davey Jones Locker!" says an in Surcel.

As they raise the Jolly Rodger in the New Year's sun, pirates young and old call children from far and wide to join the fun. Major Key (Jon Peck), Larry (really, Sally - Lucy Gransbury), Scurvy Dave (Andrew Kroenert) and Empty Drawer (Casper Konrick) are scaling the mast to scan the horizon with sea dog eyes.

Meanwhile, the mysterious Gypsy Pirate (Christina Marks) snaps her gypsy fingers to reveal the landlubbers on the nearby shore!

"Ahoy, me Hearties!" calls out the valiant Major Key (Jon Peck).

"Ye know ye want to board our tall ship! We need first mates and lasses aplenty! We won't let the old salt Captain Cutthroat get in ye way! All hand hoay!"

All aboard to meet the fearless hero Major Key, the upstart Larry (who should be Sally) and search for the mysterious and magical Gypsy Pirate! Keep one eye peeled for the menacing Captain Cutthroat, and watch out for Empty Drawer and Scurvy Dave as they scramble for pirate booty!

Whose crew will you join? Choose carefully or you might walk the plank! Will we ever find the treasure map? Will the magical Gypsy Pirate reap her revenge on Captain Cutthroat and have him keel hauled? Will Larry save Major Key? It's up to you because you're in the story! Learn the pirate talk, do the pirate walk, sing the pirate songs - and go on a treasure hunt on the ship to find the lost treasure!

For one hour, audiences will be transported to the seven seas with an interactive theatre adventure with swordfights and songs and hearty pirate action aplenty.

So don't be a landlubber this summer, get yourself shipside and join in the perfect summer holiday fun for the whole family.

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