National Theatre Live: Treasure Island

Photography from The National Theatre

In amongst the stellar selection of lockdown entertainment offerings from the National Theatre’s YouTube channel thus far was Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Treasure Island in a 2014 production from director Polly Findlay.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s *other* hugely influential classic novel is a piratical high adventure, which sees the brave Jim Hawkins caught up in buccaneer hijinks as they face off against the dread pirate Long John Silver in search of buried treasure.

This is a truly spectacular production, full of charm, whimsy and rollicking spirit, which is hardly ever short of breath-taking sights on its two-hour travels. Lizzie Clachan’s outstanding set design alongside Bruno Poet’s lighting, and music and songs from Dan Jones and John Tams manages to conjure up maritime atmosphere in treasure-digging spades. Gorgeously detailed and vivid backdrops abound, with much ingenious mechanical wizardry on display which keeps the production moving along at a pacey and pleasingly fluid clip.

Photography from The National Theatre

Patsy Ferran leads a strong cast as Jim Hawkins, with a refreshingly modern, even prescient, take on this so-called “boys’-own” adventurer, stubbornly refusing to be whittled down to boy or girl, and full of vim and vigour. Alongside her is Doctor Who alumni Arthur Darvill, hugely enjoyable as the dastardly, two-faced Long John Silver, with both performers having a grand old time of it, and sharing good chemistry onstage, along with some surprisingly endearing shared moments. There are no slouches amongst the rest of the principal cast either, with Gillian Hanna convincing as the crotchety Grandma, Alexandra Maher taking a good-natured pop-culture ribbing as The Doctor (complete with swishy, dandy long coat) in her stride, and many highlights present and accounted for on the good ship Hispaniola’s manifest of misfits.

Confidently and skillfully directed by Findlay, this is a lively, hugely enjoyable production perfect for all the family which captures the spirit of high adventure near-perfectly, and looks ship-shape doing it.