How we brought an award-winning production of Moby Dick to the islands

Almost 225 people came to see the award-winning production of Moby Dick, which came to St Mary’s at the end of May, and we saw a high demand for tickets and wonderful feedback for the three shows.

Jeremy Brown, from the Culture on Scilly team, told us more:

An approach from Dudley Hinton, the show’s producer, last year allowed us to develop a plan to bring a middle-scale production to Scilly - as part of a national tour which included a three-week run-in London and visits to nine provincial theatres with capacity around 400.

Dudley’s family are connected to John Hamilton, Tresco based artist, and regularly visits Scilly. We also capitalised on the recent interest in whale sightings and collaborated with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.

The technical challenge of shrinking the show, and the set, was overseen by the company stage manager and Jack Chandler at the Old Town Inn. They had previously worked together on large-scale musicals in the West End.

A pre-visit in early May had allowed Dudley to meet with various community groups including the WI and Wildlife Trust and to visit Five Islands Academy for a Q&A with students.

The Trust and the museum provided a pop-up exhibition of artefacts linked to whaling which was displayed in the auditorium. The company also ran a workshop for twelve academy students before the Friday evening show.

On the dates of the performances, the Old Town Inn was transformed into a very atmospheric small-scale theatre and the company enjoyed the intimacy of working in a rehearsal room space. Acoustically the show was particularly successful, with an underscore of live music and seamless shanty singing running through the narrative.

Of the 120 feedback forms we received, 92% of audience members rated the show as outstanding and 8% as good. Our audience was split 60:40 residents to visitors.

We received some wonderful comments from our audience and wanted to share some of them.

The show was amazing! What a treat to get to see a show of such high quality on the Isles of Scilly. This is exactly the sort of show that our community is usually unable to see without an expensive trip to the mainland. Many thanks to you for organising this, and to the Arts Council for their ongoing support. (Council Member)

So much of nature conservation is about people, and with great whales now returning to Scilly, following the cessation of whaling, it was very special to have this cultural reminder of the long and brutal history of people and whaling. In a group of small islands, we also need to bring ourselves together, and to look outwards, backwards and forwards – this brilliant play did all those things. (Wildlife Trust)

A great evening at OTI for Simple 8 theatre company’s production of Moby Dick. Originally designed for a larger stage the production was adapted for the smaller scale Old Town Inn which has become the main cultural venue on the islands. In a mesmerising and beautiful retelling of the famous story the action was interspersed with songs, shanties and fantastic musicianship. The response from the audience, made up of both islanders and visitors was testimony to how important and enriching it is to bring and develop creativity in small communities such as Scilly. (Visitor)

I haven't lived on Scilly for long, though family before me did. I wanted my daughter to be immersed in nature and have the safety and freedom that few other places in Britain can offer. I worried that the move might limit her opportunities when she was older, particularly in the sense of exposure to the arts and different cultures in such a small and isolated location. I could not have been more wrong. We watched Moby Dick and I saw her fall in love with theatre and music all over again. It was inspiring to see what can be done in a small space and budget and a hell of a lot of talent! Afterwards, she was full of questions about whaling, about nature and about how people can help animals and the planet. I think the opportunity to see such a high-quality, impactful performance so close to home is something that will stay with her, and likely influence her vocational choices, for many years to come. (Resident)

Just wanted to thank you and the team for facilitating the production of Moby Dick last night. I thought it was excellent, full of energy, innovation and very clever choreography and musicianship. I'm reasonably familiar with the book and I was puzzled over how they could funnel such a dense, complex novel about revenge, retribution and biblical obsessions into a two-hour play, but they did it. (Council Member)

A big thank you for all your work in bringing productions to the Isles of Scilly. What a joy it is to go and watch, take part and listen to these productions. A new experience for many. I really enjoyed Moby Dick- it may me think, it was uncomfortable to at times (which is good) and brilliantly done. On Friday I had a chat with the actor who played Ahab and thanked him. He explained more about the show, which, demonstrated to me the very different challenges there are in bringing productions to Scilly. (Council Member)

I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for orchestrating the brilliant coup of bringing Simple 8 to our school for their production of "Moby Dick." From the outset, Simple 8 demonstrated their commitment to working with our school. They visited weeks in advance to speak with students about the production and careers in performing arts. This initiative was perfectly timed, especially given the support from the arts council that our school has received over the past few years. The performance day, which coincided with half-term, meant many children were on family holidays and difficult to contact. Despite this, the event was a fantastic example of collaboration. Our students had the rare opportunity to work with a professional company during their warm-up sessions, receiving invaluable input from performers, musicians, and the stage management team. This exposure highlighted the diverse roles within the theatre industry and provided a comprehensive learning experience.

The show itself was, without a doubt, the finest piece of theatre I've seen here on Scilly. The ensemble of nine, along with the tech team and the support from our own island crew at the Lantern, demonstrated how effectively we can host and support mid-scale touring companies. The performers were exceptionally talented—a multi-skilled group who employed physical theatre, played their own music, and delivered a beautifully crafted script. What truly stood out was their dedication to our students. Even during a challenging get-out, they took the time to engage with the students, offering insights and encouragement. This generosity of spirit speaks volumes about their integrity and professionalism.

I eagerly anticipate welcoming them back to Scilly in the future. I also want to thank you and Tammy for your tireless efforts in making this project a reality. Your work has significantly enriched our students' exposure to high-quality theatre. (Head of Arts Five Islands Academy)

I just wanted to send a quick note to say a huge thank you to everything you did to bring MOBY DICK to Scilly, and for making the experience such a happy, positive one. The company had a great time, and I thought it was incredibly special to perform the show on the islands - and to do it alongside both of you. (Simple 8 Producer)

We were able to bring this production to the Isles of Scilly with Arts Council England funding, and we gratefully acknowledge the opportunities this funding gives us to share exciting cultural events with residents and visitors alike.