Playboy Of The West Indies Access Pack

PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES FRI 10 JUN - SAT 2 JUL 22

What You Need To Know Playboy Of The West Indies is a new musical. It is based on the play of the same name by Mustapha Matura, which is a reworking of the classic Irish tale, The Playboy Of The Western World.

It has been directed by Nicolas Kent, Clement Ishmael and Dominique Le Gendre.

Learn more about the cast and creative team here.

Act one is 1 hour and 15 minutes; the interval is 20 minutes; and act two is 55 minutes.

The show contains violence, weapons and a small amount of smoke.

The recommended age is 9+.

OUR SPACE

Our new front door is located on centenary Square, shown here.

Our Box Office (left) and Foyer (right) are shown here.

A Chill Out Space is available during the Relaxed Performance in The Door on the ground floor, with sensory lights and toys. A Quiet Room is available during all performances on the second floor. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to access this space.

More information about accessibility at The Rep is available here.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

We meet the people of Mayaro village, including Mikey, who owns the rum shop and his daughter Peggy, who works in the rum shop. We learn that Mikey is planning to have Peggy marry Stanley, a successful business man in the village, but Peggy isn’t so sure – she dreams of a life outside the village with someone she loves.

VISUAL STORY

A stranger wanders into the rum shop. The villagers question him, and discover he is on the run for killing his own father. Peggy takes a liking to the stranger, Ken. She offers him a job as a bottle boy and lets him sleep in the shop. Ken tells her about his hard life working at his father’s farm, and his dreams to see the world, and share his life with someone.

VISUAL STORY

Mama Benin, the town’s magic woman, tries to convince Ken to sleep in her spare bedroom and accompany her home, despite Peggy's objections. Ken chooses to stay with Peggy, and marvels at how much his life has changed.

VISUAL STORY

In the morning, the village schoolgirls come by the shop to ogle Ken, and are joined by Mama Benin. He is regailing them with his wild stories, with a little embellishment from Mama Benin, but Peggy soon chases them away. Ken serenades Peggy, but she remains stoic and sceptical.

VISUAL STORY

Peggy leaves and Ken sees his ‘dead’ father, Mac, walking around Mayaro, and begs Mama Benin for help. If Peggy finds out he’s lied, she’ll never love him.

Mama Benin hides him, and gives Ken’s father bad directions, away from Mayaro.

INTERVAL

There will now be a 20 minute interval. You can leave your seats to use the bathroom, get some refreshments or use our breakout room. You can also stay in your seats if you would prefer.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Everyone in Mayaro is celebrating Discovery Day. Two fisherman come into the rum shop to help themselves, and are followed by Mac. He tells them how his son chopped him on the head, leaving a nasty wound. Mama Benin find them. Realising her bad directions didn't work, she tries to convince the fisherman that Mac is crazy.

VISUAL STORY

They watch the Calypso competition together. When Mac sees Ken win, he realises it is his own son. Mama Benin convinces Mac he really is going crazy, and he leaves.

VISUAL STORY

Ken comes in, celebrating his victories. He convinces Peggy to marry him, and they dream of their future together.

VISUAL STORY

The fisherman and Stanley carry Mikey in drunk. Mikey tells Peggy she’s going to marry Stanley today, but she tells him that she’s going to Marry Ken. Mikey is angry, and tries to get Stanley to fight Ken, but eventually accepts Peggy’s choice, and the village celebrates the news.

VISUAL STORY

Mac bursts in, now convinced Ken is his son. There is commotion and the men fight, running outside the shop. Ken comes back in, without Mac, with a bloody cutlass… Mama Benin and the schoolgirls try and convince him to run, but Ken is sure Peggy will marry him now. He scares them away.

VISUAL STORY

Peggy, Stanley, Mikey and the fisherman sneak in and manage to tie Ken up to take him to be hung for murder. They’ve realised a mysterious stranger brings nothing but trouble. Suddenly, Mac staggers in – still not dead! Mac and Ken decide to leave together, and tell their tall tales of the bloodthirsty people of Mayaro.

VISUAL STORY

Stanley suggests he and Peggy get married now the excitement is over. Peggy becomes distraught, realising she’s lost the only Playboy of the West Indies for good.

Thank you!

We hope to see you again soon.