Pupils and staff of Sampford Arundel Primary School take to the stage in the Parish Rooms this week in ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’ by Craig Hawes. Full of action, songs and terrible jokes and with a cast that involves every pupil in the school, it “tells a story of intrigue and adventure on the high seas” according to Headteacher, Eddie East.
Johnny Depp would recognise many of the component parts of his own not dissimilar adventure – good types, bad types, truly despicable types, a parrot, a cat, lots of (charming) rats, dastardly deeds, a map, cutlasses and an island called ‘Lumbago’ in the ‘Sea of Sciatica’.
There’s a mad admiral, a pirate called Redbeard (who actually has a pink beard), sailors, an abduction, a skull and crossbones, quite a lot of fighting (some of it with mops), some hearty singing and two guys with clip-boards – A.Pratt and A.Wally. Staff have a scene to themselves – aboard the Marie Celeste – or, as it is in this version, Hairy Chest. It’s all huge fun and should delight audiences.
Eddie East said, “I am proud of the high standard of the school’s productions. Each year children aim to go one better than the year before. The children work incredibly hard and learn a tremendous amount through the process.”
Tickets are available from the school office 01823 672342
Report & Photos: Gill Paltridge