Stroud theatregoers get the chance to escape today’s transport woes by immersing themselves in a madcap world of adventure at the Cotswold Playhouse this month, writes Nick Brunger.
Jules Verne’s classic adventure “Around the World in 80 Days” takes audiences back to a time before aircraft dominated travel, our railways ran on time and train strikes were a thing of the future.
The mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagers his entire fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days.
Aided by his loyal servant and companion Passepartout their journey takes them on a succession of railways trains, steamers, a wind-propelled sledge and even an elephant.
Along the way they are pursued by a Scotland Yard detective who mistakes Fogg for a dangerous criminal on the run from the law.
A cast of fourteen actors take on more than sixty different parts and a host of costume changes as the action travels from the misty streets of Victorian London via Egypt and India to China, Japan and the Wild West in a race against the clock.
To add to the fun part the action centres around a Big Top with cast members taking part in a circus skills workshop to prepare them for this scene in the show.
Billed as an alternative to the traditional seasonal pantomime there is plenty to entertain the whole family with children’s tickets priced at just £8 and adults at £13.
Around the World In 80 Days is at the Cotswold Playhouse on Thursday 26th & Friday 27th of January at 7.30pm, with performances at 4pm on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th at 4pm. Then the following week from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th of February at 7.30pm.
Tickets are £13 for adults and £8 for under-sixteens and are available from the Cotswold Playhouse website www.cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk.
