A dramatic reinterpretation of Daphne du Maurier's classic swashbuckling tale of Jamaica Inn opens this week at the hostelry that bears the novel's name.
Cornwall's Hookline Theatre Company, which specialises in outdoor productions, will stage the show on the pub's courtyard over seven nights from Saturday.
Adapted for stage by Mike Hasshill, the play follows the fortunes of newly orphaned Mary Yellan, who arrives by carriage at Jamaica Inn, hoping to find solace with her Aunt Patience. She soon comes into contact with landlord Joss Merlyn and his thieving younger brother, Jem. From there, du Maurier's gothic tale of love and loss unfolds.
Hookline, which originally formed to celebrate the work of late Cornish playwright, Nick Darke, works with performers of all ages. The Western Morning News described the company's 2010 production of Nick Darke's The Riot as "work that screams Cornishness".
Director Harry Forbes-Pearce explained that while the historical accuracy of Daphne du Maurier's novel is dubious, the story remains a compelling and passionate adventure.
"Jamaica Inn is a brilliantly imagined story," he said. "But we have to be careful not to perpetuate inaccuracies. Of course, the Cornish were not murderous wreckers who lured ships on to the rocks with a light tied to a donkey's tale – such activity has never been documented and would have been completely impractical. Ships are wrecked because of navigational error, loss of control, bad judgement or rough weather – not by some imagined 'wrecker'. So what we are doing with this production is stopping that myth dead rather than perpetuating it."
Harry said he hoped audiences would feel part of the action because the show is being performed outdoors and in the round.
"The cobbled courtyard is naturally raked, which is good for us and for the audience," he said. "Jamaica Inn's staff have been very co-operative, helpful and enthusiastic. The pub sign will double as a crow's nest, the set will include sails, nets and barrels and there will be live music."
Mike Hasshill's adaptation was approved by Daphne du Maurier herself back in the 1970s and the original show toured Cornwall. One man whose connection to the play goes back to that original production will again be taking a lead role this time round. Martin Evans, from Bugle, played Jem 35 years ago. Twenty-five years later, in a St Austell Players' version, he was Joss, a part he will reprise with Hookline.
"It's funny to think this is the third time I have performed this play," he said. "I have been involved with it right from its original conception because I happened to meet Mike Hasshill at a party and he said he was looking for actors. I'd only ever been a stage hand before that, but he asked me if I'd read the part of Jem and it went from there. We started with three nights at Bodmin. One of those shows was attended by Daphne du Maurier's housekeeper, who was suspected of being a spy for the author, but a couple of days later Mike received a letter from Daphne, giving us permission to tour it in Cornwall."
Hookline Theatre Company's Jamaica Inn opens at Jamaica Inn on Saturday August 11 and continues on August 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. The show starts at 7pm and lasts for two hours (including interval). Tickets are £10 for adults and £8 for over-60s and under-16s. Jamaica Inn is on the A30 between Launceston and Bodmin.
