Lord of the flies
Written by William Golding
Adapted by Nigel Williams
Director - Rohan Gotobed
Producer - David Kenworthy
Set Designer - Paul Cox
Lighting and Sound Designer - Casper Hawkins
Costume Designers - Claire Allott and Ellen Gifford
Photography - Pete Davies
Performed by pupils from Marlborough College
19th - 21st May 2025
Marlborough College
In the midst of a raging war, a plane crashes on a desert island. The only survivors are a group of schoolchildren. By day, they explore the idyllic surroundings. By night, they are haunted by nightmares of a beast.
70 years on from its publication, Lord of the Flies is the story for this moment. An extraordinary imagining of youth, community, chaos, and disorder, this was the first time the classic play had been performed at Marlborough College, whose pupils inspired Golding's original characters.
In directing this production, there was no sand, no flies, no skulls. Instead, Golding's deserted island took the form of an abandoned classroom. After all, it's just fun and games.
'Which is better – to have laws and agree,
or to hunt and kill?'
The Malburian
"A fascinating production... with clever use of a large chalk board, there was a constant reminder for the audience of the civilised innocence of the survivors, turning red as the chant of 'Kill the Pig!' filled the theatre."
Gareth Machin, Wiltshire Creative
"A very confident and clear telling of the story. The staging was very strong and there was evidently a connection with the emotional and psychological life of the characters."