A preview performance at the New Theatre, at 3.30pm on Saturday 3rd July 1999, ahead of the company’s run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that August. Presented as “Nottingham University Players”.
The title role is shared between eight performers. A wedding guest is accosted by the strange figure of the Ancient Mariner, who forces him to listen to his haunting tale: the ship sets off on an exciting voyage but a raging storm forces it into an ice-field. An albatross appears and seems to guide the ship out of danger, but the Ancient Mariner condemns ship and crew by shooting the albatross with his crossbow. No wind blows until a supernatural ship appears carrying Life-in-Death and Death, who play a dice game to determine the fate of the Mariner and his crew; the life-force is taken from all of the crew except the cursed Mariner. At length the dead men are possessed by spirits who man the ship and guide it to safety. The Mariner’s ship sinks but he is rescued by the Pilot and his passenger, the Hermit, who return him in a skiff-boat to his home country.
The programme thanks the Golden Jubilee Development Office, Carl Partridge and Matt Boyd.
Missing Stories We're collecting short stories / anecdotes / trivia about each show. If you've got something to share send the editors a message.
