Kingston’s Rose Theatre is being turned into a pirates’ paradise this Christmas for an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

The production, by Karen Louise Hebden, received glowing reviews when it was first staged in Derby in 2007, and the Rose hope it will provide them with their second successful Christmas show.

Richard Bremmer, who is taking on the role of Long John Silver, says: “I see him as kind of a precursor to Jekyll and Hyde.  “He is very charismatic and charming but turns on a six pence and would stick a knife in your back as soon as you turn around.”  Bremmer is no stranger to playing the villain of the piece, and appeared as the ultimate baddy of recent years in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

He says: “I played He Who Must Not Be Named and got to kill Harry Potter’s parents.  It was a lot of fun.”  Hebden’s version of Treasure Island has been praised for remaining faithful to the original story, taking most of its dialogue straight from the book.

Although it is a family show, Hebden hasn’t shied away from some of the darker elements.

Bremmer says: “It is quite a scary story. It’s about a bunch of cut-throat pirates.  “Robert Louis Stevenson was writing about the early 1700s and he really had the hang of the colloquialisms and language the pirates would have used, which gives it a ring of authenticity.

“It’s a play with music, but it’s not pantomime.  “There’s none of the ‘it’s behind you’ stuff.  “It’s a very robust and muscular performance and has an all-male cast and an all-male choir, which in itself is quite scary!”

The Rose will be transforming the theatre for the event and children will be able to sit close up to the action on cushions, in an area designated as the sea.

“It will have a maritime feel,” says Bremmer.

“The theatre already looks like a dock, so it lends itself to that anyway.

“The children will feel as though they are involved in the story and their imaginations can run riot.”

Treasure Island, Rose Theatre, Kingston High Street, December 11 to January 9, £7 to £29.50, times vary. Recommended for ages six and over. Visit rosetheatrekingston.org or call 08712301552.

*A very special performance of Treasure Island will take place on December 11, dedicated to the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in Hampton.

Children from the hospice, together with their families and staff, will be given tickets to the show and an opportunity to meet the cast.  The Rose will also be hosting a fancy-dress pirate party in aid of the hospice.

The auditorium will be turned into a pirates’ playground for the evening and there will be free face-painting, chocolate coin giveaways and pin-the-patch-on-the-pirate competitions.

The event will start at 6.30pm and the audience are invited to get into the spirit by coming along in fancy dress and donating their ‘pieces of eight’.

It is hoped the evening will provide a welcome break for the children at the hospice and their families and will provide everyone else with a fun way to help raise some money.