Planet of Apes star message to Dukes team

A film star has sent a good luck message to The Dukes in Lancaster where he appeared in its very first outdoor production 30 years ago.

Andy Serkis sent a video message to the team behind the 30th anniversary production of Treasure Island just days before the release of his new blockbuster film, War for the Planet of the Apes.

“Congratulations for getting the show on and I hope that Treasure Island goes really well this summer,” he said.  “Good luck to all the crew and cast and the whole team.”

Andy, now a Dukes Honorary Patron, said he couldn’t believe it was 30 years since he appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Williamson Park.

“I’ve got such amazing and fond memories of putting on that show and I long to come back and see another one,” he said.

Some photographs of Andy and other members of the cast and crew of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 1987 are currently on display in The Dukes gallery.

They feature in the latest exhibition – 30 X 30 – which includes behind-the-scenes photographs from last year’s awardwinning walkabout production of The Hobbit and pictures taken during the preparations for Treasure Island, taken by Lancaster’s Darren Andrews.

The exhibition runs until August 13 and can be viewed during normal Dukes opening hours. If you are making a special trip to see it, call the Box Office as sometimes the gallery is used for other activities.

Now Treasure Island is well underway, The Dukes has announced its plans for summer 2018 – The Three Musketeers.

This will be the first Dukes outdoor show to be directed by new Artistic Director, Sarah Punshon and will be adapted by Olivier Award nominated playwright, Hattie Naylor.

Sarah said: “Hattie’s wicked sense of humour and inventive visual imagination will create a Three Musketeers the whole family will enjoy.

Audiences will follow our D’Artagnan as she disguises herself as a man in order to fulfil her life’s ambition of becoming a Musketeer – leading to many dangerous, comic, thrilling and romantic complications!”

Booking for The Three Musketeers opens in the autumn. For tickets to see Treasure Island, which runs until August 12, ring The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org