Weaving together the tragi-comic fate of a family heirloom, the quandary of a scriptwriter stretching his integrity and an unfolding disaster as thousands of children flee their homes, The Duke blends fantasy and reality in a playful, thought-provoking show that explores what truly matters in a world of crisis.
Funny, poignant, and inventive, The Duke received The Scotsman’s Fringe First Award when it premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 and was made into a radio play for BBC Radio 4 in 2018, achieving ‘Pick of the Week’. No,w this March there are three chances to catch the show in Dorset as it tours across the county with local charity Artsreach.
★★★★ “You won’t find a show with a bigger, better heart.” What’s On Stage
“In 1974 my father invested £750 (£9,800 in today’s money) in a Royal Worcester porcelain figure of The Duke of Wellington on horseback – made to celebrate his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. He kept the figure we affectionately called The Duke, wrapped in a sponge, in a big box, under his bed. After he died in 2001, my mother decided to take the figure out and display it on the table in the bay window. Since 2005 I’ve been working on a film script, which is in the very final stages of development. In the spring of 2024 I sit at my desk waiting for an email that will tell me what I need to do to the script to get it onto the screen. I turn the radio on. I listened to a report about the refugee crisis. My mother calls. She tells me she’s broken The Duke. My mother, my film script, and the refugee crisis all need my attention.”
Originally created by Shôn Dale-Jones in 2016 in response to the refugee crisis that exploded following ‘The Syrian Conflict’, The Duke was rewritten and revived in 2025 as the refugee crisis became more extreme following increasing conflicts and disasters around the world
“A piece that is constantly questioning what we value and hold dear.” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
Artsreach is delighted to present The Duke at Portland’s Royal Manor Theatre on Thursday 12 March, West Stafford Village Hall on Friday 13 March, and Burton Bradstock Village Hall on Saturday 14 March. Tickets and full details are available online at www.artsreach.co.uk
Thurs 12 Mar, 8pm. Portland Royal Manor Theatre. 03336 663366
Fri 13 Mar, 7:30pm. West Stafford Village Hall. 07968 633834
Sat 14 Mar, 7:30pm. Burton Bradstock Village Hall. 01308 897403
