Robinson Crusoe

The story of Robinson Crusoe is retold in this family pantomime that contains everything that the seasonal entertainment requires – but with a number of twists and surprises. Robinson lives in the port of Hull with his mother Mrs Clarissa Crusoe and his bother Billy. Rather than help his mother in Clarissa Crusoe's Old Curiosity Shop, Robinson is always found by the docks dreaming of a life at sea. Long suffering brother Billy would rather Robinson help him in the shop, but girlfriend Susie shares Robinson's desire for adventure, if only to get away from working in her uncle's bank. ‘Lotsadosh Bank’ is owned by the miserly Monty Moneybags who holds the mortgage on the Crusoe shop, a mortgage which is six months in arrears. Among the second-hand items for sale in the shop, the Crusoe family find a treasure map. This is all Robinson needs to fulfil his ambition and when a couple of ex-fishermen turned no frills cruise ship proprietors (Seafaring Sam and Paddling Pete) announce they are looking for crew, Robinson signs up. Thinking that finding any treasure could be a way of paying off the mortgage, Mrs Crusoe and Billy decide to go with him. With the idea of getting his hands on the treasure, Monty goes along for the ride. There then follows a number of adventures on and under the sea, on a desert island (where Robinson finds a new mate in a very different Friday) and finally in the mysterious Skull Valley. Watching over the proceedings is Ruler of the Waves, Britannia, while the awful Davy Jones is doing his best to restock his locker with any lost souls. This pantomime can be staged as simply or as lavishly as facilities dictate.