AUB Productions 
Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth
Victoria Liechti 
14 May 2026
Moonfleet is an 1898 historical novel by J Meade Falkner, the plot an adventure tale of smuggling, treasure, shipwreck, friendship and love, set mostly in Dorset. This production has been adapted from Angel Exit Theatre’s 2009 touring production in which director Tamsin Fessey appeared. In this adapted AUB offering, we have an ensemble cast of 10 talented individuals on stage, fully supported with costume designers & makers, hair & make-up artists, technical and stage management provided by BA Hons university students, and the results are visually stunning.
Set in 1757, the story follows John Trenchard, a 15-year-old orphan who lives with his Aunt Jane. The local wealthy family are the Mohunes, with the village pub the Mohune Arms run by Elzevir Block. There is rivalry between the magistrate Mr Maskew and Elzevir after the death of the latter’s son, and during a Bailiff’s meeting Maskew bids for the pub, taking it from Elzevir and causing more friction. Elzevir and his friend Ratsey decide to make one final smuggling run, and John Trenchard stumbles upon these activities and is drawn in. The search for the infamous diamond that Col John ‘Blackbeard’ Mohune stole from Charles I is another thread in this intriguing adventure tale, with ghosts haunting the churchyard used as a deterrent to interest in areas used to hide smuggled goods. John is in love with Maskew’s daughter, Grace, but it is his friendship with Elzevir that is the focus of this production, told by the risen ancestors of the Mohune family. The action takes us from Dorset to the Isle of Wight and even to Holland, from church to jail, from cliff path to sea, and the design of all these aspects worked superbly, taking the audience along with the action.
The stage design is focussed in and around a central wooden structure which at times is moved and adapted to become the pub, a house, the church, a ship, a claustrophobic tunnel, and even Carisbrooke Castle. The once-dead Mohune ancestors maintain a stylised characterisation while storytelling and move the scenery with aplomb so there never feels like there’s a “set change” and this keeps the action and pace moving well. Their make-up showed up well under the lights, and various costume props, as well as their movement changes, aided each of the ensemble to play several characters.
The story was held together very effectively by Harry Clapham who played John Trenchard with clarity and emotional depth. As most of the ensemble cast are wearing boots, and the staging is wooden, with Dorset accents maintained throughout, during the more chaotic action sequences it was difficult to understand all the words to be able to follow the story, especially just before the interval during a dramatic chase across the cliffs, when diction and projection were lost. Saying that, I loved the way in which the action was brought to a stop for the interval. Adrian Ahern-Williams as Ratsey, and Sam Sherwood as Elzevir were strong supporting characters, and Parson Glennie (played by Joe Napier) delivered some wise words for us all, but it was the whole ensemble acting as a team that was noticeable.
There were many specific scenes which worked particularly well, such as that led by Blackbeard, played by Charlie Feeney, who carried the fearsome drama well. The Bailiff scene, with Catie Ironmonger and Chas Dickenson leading the proceedings, was particularly good, humorous too. Aldobrand (played by Bella Luis) checking the diamond for authenticity was a particularly well-choreographed moment. The death of Maskew (played by Rohit Panesar) was dramatic, especially when he immediately joined the ancestors as ‘dead’. My personal favourite though had to be the scene around the well, with the Turnkey (played by Ifeoluwa Aromona) and the donkey sending all of us into fits of laughter (and the rear end didn’t even keep in step!). The details are what made this production work, such as the stormy sea, the artwork on the candle market and wanted posters, though sadly it was too dark in the auditorium for us to see them at the time!
The last time I’d been to the Palace Court Theatre was in the 1980’s and I was searched for rice on my way in to watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show! AUB have had the theatre since 2021, launching their first full programme of cultural events in 2024. There is obviously still much refurbishment and finishing off to do in the building, but it is such a joy to see this venue used for such innovative theatrical productions. The production is on Friday & Saturday evenings, with a ‘pay what you can’ performance for Saturday matinee, and there are seats still available for all; grab one if you can.
