You can hear the crowd a mile away, you can smell them from half a mile. The village graveyard is heaving with excited fans. Sweaty peasants straight from the fields jostle to see the showdown between their wrestling heroes, Man Mountain and The Plough.

As the throng roars its support, a ship slips unnoticed into Weymouth harbour. It is carrying a lethal cargo. The year is 1348, and the Black Death has arrived.

As fear of infection takes hold, what will friends risk to save friends? What will battling brothers do to settle their differences before it’s too late?

This hysterically historical tale of plague, pestilence and puns features Shanty's trademark mix of inventive theatre, original live music, and stories that spring from the myths and history we uncover everywhere we go.

Never has the Black Death been so funny.

Written by Harry Long, directed by Tim Bell and featuring music by Stuart Mcloughlin, ‘A Rat’s Tale’ is Shanty Theatre Company’s third major production, following the success of ‘Smugglers’ and ‘Rebel Harbour’ for the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis. Now Shanty are bringing their own brand imaginative stories (not to mention more-than-a few-ukuleles) to Weymouth’s historic Old Town Hall as part of the Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival.

Shanty’s ensemble cast have extensive experience in innovative theatre, ranging from Eastern Angles, Complicite, and Matthew Bourne to the RSC, the Royal Opera House, and the National Theatre. Music composer Stuart Mcloughlin works extensively with Kneehigh Theatre Company as an actor and musician. Shanty’s artistic directors Harry Long and Tim Bell are at the helm of this year’s production as writer and director.

Shanty started on a beach in the South West. With their roots deeply embedded in the countryside, they tell the stories that make-up the fabric of a place, spring from its history and are wound up in its myths. Through music, dance, puppetry, stupidity and hilarity they investigate rural life.

Here’s what the press said of ‘Rebel Harbour’:

“Family show in which ‘Horrible Histories’ meets ‘Blackadder’”

View from Lyme Regis

“It’s full of quirky humour, derring-do, eccentric characters, great dancing, fine singing, multi-instrumental musicianship and fun…If Shanty continues on this path, the company could well find itself following in the illustrious footsteps of Kneehigh”
Gay Pirrie-Weir, Blackmore Vale Magazine.