The award-winning adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic adventure Moby Dick tours to Oxford
The Oxford Playhouse welcomes Simple8 as they present a swashbuckling adaptation of Moby Dick, playing on the Main Stage from Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22.
This brand-new adaptation from Sebastian Armesto, directed by Royal & Derngate Artistic Director Jesse Jones, follows the hunt for the most famous whale on earth.
It’s October, 1839. The Pequod is due to sail out of Nantucket and her skipper, one Captain Ahab, is in need of a crew. Seeking fortune and adventure, a humble schoolmaster named Ishmael ships aboard, joining a company charged with one task: to wreak revenge on the white whale that lost Ahab his leg – the infamous Moby-Dick.
The fun, fast and joyous production is brought to life capturing the spirit of the novel through theatrical flair and thrilling invention, sea shanties and musical instruments played live by actor-musicians.
The ensemble of actors and actor-musicians is formed of Mark Arends (Ishmael), Jonathan Charles (Ensemble), Hannah Emanuel (Starbuck), Syreeta Kumar (Manx), Hazel Monaghan (Ensemble), James Newton (Flask), William Pennington (Stubb), and Tom Swale (Queequeg) and Guy Rhys (Captain Ahab).
Watch a preview of the show here: https://youtu.be/Bv_QMg7_ESg
Tickets for Moby Dick at Oxford Playhouse start from £14 and are available from Box Office: 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com
About Moby Dick
“Moby-Dick; or, The Whale” is a novel written by Herman Melville and was first published in 1851. The novel follows the journey of the narrator, Ishmael, and his experiences aboard the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by the vengeful Captain Ahab.
Captain Ahab’s relentless pursuit of the white sperm whale, Moby Dick, is driven by his desire for revenge after the whale had maimed him. The novel explores themes of obsession, revenge, fate, and the nature of good and evil.
Moby-Dick is considered one of the greatest American novels and a classic of world literature. The novel was initially a commercial failure but has since gained immense critical acclaim and is now regarded as a masterpiece of literature.
Melville drew inspiration from his own experiences as a sailor and from various sources, including true events and historical accounts of whaling. The book is known for its rich symbolism, complex characters, and philosophical musings on the human condition.
Moby-Dick has been adapted into various forms, including films, plays, and even a graphic novel. The opening line of the novel, “Call me Ishmael,” is one of the most famous opening lines in English literature.
