Christmas holds buried treasure

There are some things that go with Christmas without saying. Crackers, turkey, mince pies, carolling and pantomime. This year the Anglo Cypriot Theatre (ACT)’s theme is pirates and hidden treasure when it takes us to Treasure Island for six performances as of Saturday.

It all begins with the new lodger at the Admiral Bimbo Inn, the decrepit old sea dog Billy Fishbones. Former first mate of the notorious pirate Captain Squint, he is being hunted by Long John Sliver (the baddies, so be sure to let the other characters know when he is behind them) and pirates who sailed with Squint, for he has stolen the map showing where Squint’s treasure is buried.

When Billy dies, landlady of the Admiral Bimbo, Mrs Ladd and her son Jim search his chest for money to pay for his stay. They discover the map which they take to Squire Polpero. He immediately mounts a voyage to search for the treasure. The plot thickens when he unwittingly hires Long John as the ship’s cook and Long John recruits the pirates who sailed with Squint as crew for the voyage. The ship sails with a chorus of pirates on board – who will join together in song and dance – but also with Jim and Nancy (daughter of the Squire) who stowed away on the ship.

Will the pirates take over the ship? Will they find the hidden treasure or will Jim save the day? All will be revealed with acting, pirating around and singing and with dancing by dancers from the London School of Ballet.

Tickets are €14 for adults and €7 for children from four to 12-years-old.

Treasure Island
ACT presents a traditional Christmas pantomime. November 25-26 and December 2-3. Russian Cultural Centre, Nicosia. Saturday: 3pm and 7.30pm and Sunday: 3pm. €7/14. Tel: 99-168638

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.