By Cowie Loon
This year’s pantomime by Ury Players at Stonehaven Town Hall starts next week but there is a little known link to the real-life Robinson Crusoe which can be seen in the Tolbooth Museum down in the harbour.
Robinson Crusoe was written by Scottish author Daniel Defoe in 1719 but the story was based on the true tale of Alexander Selkirk from Lower Largo in Fife. In 1695, at the age of 19, he escaped home after he was charged by the Kirk Session He fled to sea and lived a life of adventure, including time as a privateer (a pirate). He became disillusioned with his time on one ship and asked to be put ashore on the island of Mas a Tierra, 400 miles west of Chile. He was left with a gun, a knife, some oats and tobacco as well as a Bible. (His decision was a good one as the ship he was on sank soon afterwards). Selkirk was alone on the island for 4 years and 4 months before he was rescued and returned to his life as a privateer. He returned home rich but missed the sea and joined the Royal Navy, dying of a fever in 1721 – the year after he had been immortalised by Defoe.
Now for the (loose) links to Stonehaven….
The Ury Players version of Robinson Crusoe, written by local quine Heather Adams Officer, shows some similarities to Alexander Selkirk’s life and includes a young boy in search of adventure and a crew of pirates. There may be a marooning on an island but there will also be some appearances by a whole cavalcade of strange characters (including an infamous Stonehaven character).
Expect songs, jokes and all the usual slapstick. The are still a few tickets available for the shows which run from Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th December starting at 1900 each night with a matinee on Saturday starting at 1400 see ticketsource.co.uk/uryplayers
The Ury Players Pantomime 2024 – Rapunzel
The Tolbooth has an exhibit which gives a direct link back to Alexander Selkirk. In 1885 a ship which was tasked with patrolling the west coast of South America put ashore for water and supplies at Mas a Tierra. One of the sailors, Samuel Kevern, whilst foraging found the remains of Selkirk’s hut. Wanting a souvenir, he removed a stone from the hut and that stone has remained in Kevern’s family for 140 years and is now on loan at the museum. It can be seen with a note written by Kevern himself.
Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum
Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum has free admission and is operating on its winter hours at the moment – Sat and Sun 1230-1530 www.stonehaventolbooth.co.uk/
Note: Thanks to Andrew Newton for the information about Samuel Kevern.