ONLINE PROGRAM
KENSUKE'S KINGDOM

by MICHAEL MORPURGO
adapted by STUART PATERSON

Kensuke's Kingdom is presented through a special arrangement with Berlin Associates. All authorized performance materials are supplied by www.berlinassociates.com. By permission of Alan Brodie Representation Ltd; www.alanbrodie.com

SBT Production photography by Tim Nguyen.

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the Internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under copyright law.

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Feb 7th to Mar 8, 2025

Thursdays to Saturdays 7pm
Saturdays & Sundays 2pm

rated G | 6+
running time:
Two-act musical, approx. 120
min with a 15 min. intermission

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SHOW SUMMARY

The story of a young boy’s fantastic adventure after being washed up on a Pacific island – adapted for the stage by acclaimed dramatist Stuart Paterson from the best-selling novel by Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo.
Michael embarks on a round-the-world sailing voyage with his parents, only for their dream to become a nightmare when Michael falls overboard. Washed up on an island in the Pacific populated with orang-utans, Michael soon makes a startling discovery: the island is already home to one extraordinary man, and this is Kensuke’s Kingdom.

RATING: G | 6+
Read more about show ratings and recommendations >

Video courtesy of The Music Man on Broadway, 2022, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, directed by Jerry Zaks.

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Show Summary

Statistics

Production Inclusion Statics

51.61% FEMALE/NON-BINARY
REPRESENTATION

25.81% MARGINALIZED REPRESENTATION

3.23% BIPOC
REPRESENTATION

22.58% LGBTQIA2S+
REPRESENTATION

53.85% ON STAGE
50.00% OFFSTAGE

38.46% ON STAGE
16.67% OFFSTAGE

7.69% ON STAGE

0.00% OFFSTAGE

30.77% ON STAGE
16.67% OFFSTAGE

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CREATORS

ABOUT THE CREATOR

MICHAEL MORPURGO

Micheal Morpurgo is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as War Horse (1982). His work is noted for its "magical storytelling", for recurring themes such as the triumph of an outsider or survival, for characters' relationships with nature, and for vivid settings such as the Cornish coast or the trenches of the First World War. Morpurgo was the third Children's Laureate, from 2003 to 2005, and is President of BookTrust, a children's reading charity. Morpurgo's writing career was inspired by Ted Hughes' Poetry in the Making, Paul Gallico's The Snow Goose and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.Hughes and another poet, Seán Rafferty, were influential in his career, with Hughes becoming a friend, mentor and neighbour.

STUART PATERSON

Stuart Paterson has written King Of The Fields for the Traverse Theatre, and new versions of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orcherd; Uncle Vanya; The Seagull and Three Sisters. For The Scottish Youth Theatre he has written In Traction (later televised by BBC) and adapted Zola’s Germinal. He has also adapted Zola’s THÉRÈSE AQUIN for Communicado Theatre Company, which was later staged at Newcastle Playhouse who also staged his adaptation of William Trevor’s The Ballroom Of Romance. His work for Tag Theatre Company includes an adaptation of Beowulf and James Hogg’s The Private Memoirs and Confessions Of A Justified Sinner. He has recently completed a version of Strindberg’s comedy Comrades and new plays Moon Sreet and Cars And Boys, as well as adaptations of Chekhov’s stories The Black Mook and The Letter.

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DIRECTOR'S NOTES

FROM THE
DIRECTOR & ARTISTIC PRODUCER

'The Music Man,' often celebrated as an American classic, paints a vivid picture of life in a small town and invites us to witness the transformative journey of its characters. Composed by Meredith Willson, this timeless tale highlights extraordinary individuals who profoundly impact their community. The overarching theme aligns seamlessly with our season’s ethos “be Extraordinary” – celebrating ordinary people with extraordinary spirits.

In an era of divisiveness and uncertainty, it is essential to revisit narratives like ‘The Music Man.’ Its central character, Harold Hill, epitomizes the concept of an ‘extraordinary person.’ He begins as a dubious con-man selling dreams in River City but evolves significantly throughout his journey. The transformation he undergoes showcases that even flawed individuals have a tremendous capacity for change and growth.

Our production is blessed by having an incredible cast comprising dedicated volunteers who breathed life into these characters. Watching each one learn, interpret their roles afresh, and adapt to changes whilst maintaining the essence of their characters has been nothing short of rewarding. Despite most of them being volunteers without any professional obligations towards performing arts, they demonstrated great perseverance and patience during rehearsals which are qualities hard to find even amongst many professionals.

Each moment spent guiding them was filled with fulfillment; witnessing raw talents blossom into refined performers was indeed gratifying. Their passion for theatre transcended beyond individual performances; it infused vibrancy into every scene making 'The Music Man' not just another musical performance but rather a rich tapestry woven from dedication and hard work.

Working on this show has reaffirmed my belief that ordinary people possess immense potential—they only require opportunities for expression. Our volunteers came from diverse backgrounds yet were united under one common purpose—to create a remarkable rendition of The Music Man—and they did so beautifully! This process bore testament not only to their stunning talent but also highlighted their capacity for growth, marking them truly as ‘extraordinary.’

I am confident that you'll enjoy watching these incredible actors depict this heart-warming story just as much I enjoyed directing it—a tale celebrating human spirit painted across vibrant sets brought alive by extraordinarily dedicated souls!

My heartfelt gratitude goes out once again towards all those involved in bringing this grand performance onto stage—the cast members who threw themselves into every rehearsal session wholeheartedly, the crew who never stop creating on and off the stage, the entire team for bringing this show to life!

Thank you for joining us today—I hope you leave feeling inspired by these everyday heroes we call our cast members—their dedication embodying everything we envisage while exploring themes around extraordinary people.

JP Thibodeau

Director