This was the show that took my work across the country for a period of 10 years. From 1998 – 2008 we made 5 separate productions of this that played over 960 performances in almost every theatre in the country to audiences in excess of 500,000.
We had 5 casts that overlapped as the shows progressed and we co-produced with Lyric Hammersmith, York Theatre Royal to first deliver this with Pilot Theatre back in 1998.
The show toured across the UK and we even tool it to Bermuda to their International Theatre festival. It also played versions across Europe as part of EU collaborative projects. 
The crashed aeroplane set was designed by Ali Allen and Marise Rose – and its multi-functional use became a real trademark for the show. This was combined with the first full soundtrack composed by Sandy Nuttgens which underscored the entire piece. Again a first for this kind of work.
We used projection and titles from the first production again giving the pice a cinematic feel. The full soundtrack and moving shapes from the plane were combined with real elements too. We had two real fireboxes on stage that really created a sense of danger.
The show itself was a series of controlled danger moments. With falls and crashes and swinging metal from the structure, as the actors leapt over flames and slid down the structures that they beat with metal bars.
The rotting pig’s head at the start of Act 2 with Simon ( played by Neville Robinson)
Phillip Dinsdale as Jack
The use of blood, water and fire and a pulsing soundtrack ensures that there were moments of adrenaline rush in the audience that could tip to a moment of pin drop silence, when we killed the soundtrack dead – as the motionless body of Simon hung limply from the edge of the wing section.
Neville Hutton as Piggy
The bullying and baying of the characters whipped the story to its terrifying climax – as we flew in a ‘helicopter’ effect to blind the audience as we dropped in a parachting SAS officer.
This show always worked incredibly well for the audience of young people who had sometimes been reluctantly dragged along to see their set text piece of work. As a director I wanted to ensure that they witnessed something they would never have seen before. And to ensure that they would not be bored and there would be scenes that would burn into their memory by the sheer audacity of the action in front of them.
QUOTES & REVIEWS
“William Golding meets Quentin Tarantino”The Financial Times
“Brilliantly evoked…see it and weep”Time Out
“Terrifying and exhilarating production…heart stopping”The Guardian
“Visceral production…thrillingly choreographed”The Independent
“Brilliant – Stunning production…superb ensemble…skilful direction, if you see nothing else, see this.”Manchester Evening News
“This is a superb production of which everyone involved can be proud”The Scotsman
Directed by Marcus Romer
Designed by Ali Allen and Marise Rose
Soundtrack by Sandy Nuttgens
Lighting design by James Farncombe
AV Arnim Friess
Movement Hannah Priddle / Gill wright / Faroque Khan
Relights James Molyneux
Photos Simon Warner
The trailer made by AGE from New York back in 1999 – before Theatres did trailers…
Thanks to all the actors and creative practitioners and office staff who worked on this project over the many years. It was a great show and was great fun to make.
The show ran for 6 productions for the next 11 years. We gave over 960 performances in over 60 venues across the whole of the UK – and also as far afield as Bermuda, and Portugal. We were nominated for numerous awards and picked up a fair few along the way too. There were 6 casts and technical teams – but the original crashed plane design by Ali Allen and Marise Rose and the soundscape by Sandy Nuttgens were constant thoughout the whole series of productions.
Marcus Romer's work & blog 