Finborough Theatre Logo

Death of Long Pig

by Nigel Planer

Press Info
July - September 2009
"Long Pig; A white man to be eaten" “Here where the living eat the dead, the dead may eat the living too. Their spirits are all around us now, carved in the rock, in the shells, in the trunk of the Pandanu tree…”
The world premiere of an exotic and darkly comic new play from playwright, actor and novelist Nigel Planer
7 Jul - 1 Aug 2009
archive

Death of Long Pig explores the final moments of artists Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin as they confront their impending deaths amidst the supernatural backdrop of the Polynesian islands.

About The Play

About The Play

★★★★ Four Stars, Daily Express

View video trailer here
www.deathoflongpig.com

Deep in the Polynesian islands of the Pacific Ocean, hungry spirits circle the homes of writer Robert Louis Stevenson and artist Paul Gauguin.

The path to Stevenson’s grave, his ‘Road to Paradise’, is complete; he can pass on anytime he likes. But, having spent thirty years in rigorous combat with the grim reaper, is he finally ready to concede defeat? His islander maid, Java is terrified his spirit will get waylaid on its journey back to Edinburgh and stay to devour her soul.

Gauguin too, is ready – he has bought rum, arsenic and morphine for his suicide cocktail and is certain he’s not long for this world. It seemed easy enough to avoid being arrested by the gendarme, but he’ll be damned if they give him a Catholic burial in consecrated ground.

Set in the strange and supernatural surroundings of Samoa and Tahiti, Death of Long Pig explores the duality of experience from the perspectives of two great artists as they usher death into their island homes. As the final hour approaches, they face the eternal question: is it how we prepare for death that really governs the way we live?

More Detail

Cast

Crew

Director

Alexander Summers

Producer

Presented by JQ Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre

Design

Alex Marker

Lighting

James Smith

Sound Design

Andy Evans

Costume Design

Penn O’Gara