| The Lowdown... | Moby Dick will be making its world premiere at Wakefield Theatre Royal from Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 February, 2006. Call the Box Office on 01924 211311 for further details. |
Herman Melville's classic tale follows the fortunes of Captain Ahab and his crew aboard the Pequod as they search for a great white whale off the coast of Massachusetts. It soon becomes apparent that Ahab’s obsession is leading them towards a terrifying climax. Owen Aaronovitch, well-known for his role in Corrie as Deirdre Rashid's con-man husband, leads the nine-strong cast of actors who play all of Melville's characters.
 | | Director Neil Sissons |
Now Compass Theatre company has adapted Melville's novel for the stage and, despite being based in Sheffield, is holding the world premiere at Wakefield's Theatre Royal. Moby Dick is directed by Compass' founder and Artistic Director, Neil Sissons. Although born and bred in Sheffield Neil is no stranger to Wakefield - he was a drama student at Bretton Hall. We caught up with Neil to to find out a bit more about the challenges he faced in Compass' ambitious new production. Why did you decide to bring Moby Dick to the stage?
 | | In rehearsal: Owen Aaronovitch as Ahab |
First of all it is a great story.Ìý It presents huge challenges in its staging and will require the full use of all the Company's repertoire of theatrical devices.Ìý We hope to deliver an exuberant, thrilling and compelling production that appeals to a wide range of audiences including those that have little or no experience of live theatre. Compass Theatre is a Sheffield-based company. Why have you decided to hold the world premiere for Moby Dick in Wakefield? We have had a long and successful relationship with Wakefield Theatres.Ìý This project was partly financed by Stage Exchange who funded a joint initiative between Compass and Wakefield Theatres to develop audiences for drama at the Theatre Royal.Ìý It is therefore a natural place for us to present the World Premiere and begin our national tour. The action in the novel takes place on board Captain Ahab's ship and the sea is also very important. Is this difficult to present on the Theatre Royal's very traditional Victorian stage? It is the difficulties that excite us.
 | | Jonathan Oliver (Starbuck) and Ben Abell (Ishmael) |
Well, elements of the physical staging are challenging and new.Ìý Then there is the specially commissioned score that features a soundtrack mixing the live and recorded plus our use of digital video and projections.Ìý It is this mixing together of all these eclectic elements that will create an innovative production. Moby Dick is also a very long book. Did you find many problems in changing this into a few hours of theatrical entertainment? Many of the problems of adapting a book of this size and scope are what to leave out!Ìý However, once you have decided on the story you want to tell and the themes of the book you want to engage with, the choices narrow but the possibilities open up. How do you feel about the news that Bretton Hall is to close?Ìý Bretton gave me fantastic grounding in theatre and this has been heavily influential in all my work since.Ìý The closing of this wonderful place that has produced so many talented and interesting artists is to be much lamented | 
