Interview: Pirates, Books, and Laughter

Lambeth Fringe

Paul Robinson on bringing The Pirate Bookshop to Lambeth Fringe

Pajoda Theatre Company bring us a new family play by Ezra Harker-Shaw and Ian Chandler, The Pirate Bookshop. It’s a the tale of Zee, a young woman trying to save her beloved bookshop despite rising bills, falling customers, and an infestation of pirates!

We put our parrot on our shoulder, put on our eyepatch and wooden leg, and made our way over to The Bread and Roses Theatre (where we must admit we did get a few strange looks) to catch up with producer Paul Robinson and find out more about The Pirate Bookshop ahead of it playing as part of this year’s Lambeth Fringe.

Ahoy, Me Hearties! Welcome to the good ship, ET, so who do we have here today?

I’m Paul Robinson, producer of The Pirate Bookshop, as well as playing the role of Quartermaster Quentin. I formed Pajoda Theatre Company with actor friends about five years ago, and we’ve been bringing unique productions to life ever since.

Where is the show playing?

We’re performing at the Bread and Roses Theatre as part of the Lambeth Fringe Festival, which the theatre is running this year. The show runs from the 27th September until the 4th October at 4.30pm . It’s exciting to be part of such a vibrant festival, especially at a venue like the Bread and Roses, which is known for supporting new and innovative work.

What is The Pirate Bookshop about, and who is it for?

The show is aimed at children, young people, and their families. It’s full of confusion, mix-ups, laughter, and songs. Our hero, Zee, is trying to keep their beloved bookshop running despite rising costs, dwindling customers… and an infestation of pirates! At its core, it’s a play about the importance of books and reading.

What drew you to the role of Quartermaster Quentin?

Quartermaster Quentin is such a fun character to play. He’s full of pirate bluster, but deep down, he’s a warm-hearted fellow who wouldn’t hurt a fly. The way he tries to help Zee – often getting things hilariously wrong – makes him a great comedic character. Plus, who wouldn’t love to play a pirate?

What attracted you to this project as a producer?

I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a bookshop overrun by pirates. I’m passionate about reading and storytelling, so the concept really resonated with me. I’m also close friends with the writers, Dr. Ezra Harker-Shaw and Ian Chandler, so when I first read the script, I knew it was something special. Ezra’s previous work with Pajoda helped us win a prize at the Wandsworth Festival last year, so I knew this project had real potential.

What’s your favourite element of the show?

I love the farcical element – the way the pirates constantly get things wrong, but somehow, it all works out in the end. It reminds me a bit of Tom the cabin boy from Captain Pugwash. There’s also a lovely moment when the least regarded member of the crew steps up and saves the day. It’s heartwarming, funny, and relatable.

What has been the biggest challenge in realising the writer’s vision?

The biggest challenge has been flitting from theatre to theatre during festival season. The Bread and Roses is our third venue this summer, and that brings its own logistical hurdles. We also have to work hard to make sure we have an audience at each performance. But it’s been worth it to see the show come together.

Joe Newton, who plays Pirate Scurvy, wrote the songs for the show, right?

Yes, Joe’s written the songs, and he’s done music for previous shows as well. He’s probably written enough for a full soundtrack mash-up at this point! One of my favourite parts of the performance is when the children in the audience start singing along to the songs. It’s wonderful to see them so engaged.

What do you hope the audience takes away from the show?

First and foremost, I hope they have fun! It’s a light-hearted, joyful production, and I want children and their families to leave with smiles on their faces. If it also inspires people to read more books, that’s an added bonus.

What’s next for you and the company after the show?

We’re just beginning to think about our next project. Our next show won’t be until next summer, so there’s plenty of writing and planning to be done before then.

Will you be hanging out after the show, hoping to chat with the audience?

Definitely! We’ll likely stay for a beer after the show, and people are more than welcome to come up, tell us how marvellous the show was, and ask for autographs!

What’s the weirdest prop in the show, and how did it come to be part of the production?

Probably the invisible Mr. Fibuli – the ship’s parrot! It’s a bit unconventional, but it adds to the fun and whimsy of the show.

If budget wasn’t an issue, what’s the one piece of set you’d love to have in the show?

The scenery we do have is a number of screens on wheels. These are erected, and then bookshop wallpaper is fastened to them. This means we can quickly put it together, and take it down. If money were no object, I’d love a real pirate ship on stage. That would be incredible!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career, and how has it influenced this show?

The best advice I’ve received comes from Noel Coward: “Say your lines and don’t trip over the scenery!” It’s simple, but so true. It’s about staying focused on your performance and letting the story shine through.

How does The Pirate Bookshop reflect modern themes and issues?

My character, Quentin, has both “wifeys” and “husbandies,” and Zee is a non-binary character. The play handles this in a very modern and casual way – it’s just part of the world we’ve created, without being preachy. I think it’s important to reflect the diversity of today’s society in theatre, especially for younger audiences.

Is this the first time the show is being performed?

We’ve trialled the show in other parts of London before bringing it to Lambeth for its summer climax. It’s evolved a lot, but we’re thrilled with where it is now.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing the Lambeth Festival next year?

I’ll be able to answer that better after our performance at the Bread and Roses, but so far, I’d say go for it! It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work and be part of a supportive community.

This is your fourth year producing festival shows. What’s the key to success?

The key is having a willing, adaptable, good-natured, and flexible cast. You also need easily erected scenery and, most importantly, loads of stamina!

Thanks to Paul for chatting with us. The Pirate Bookshop will being playing at The Bread & Roses Theatre between 27th September and 4th October. Further information and tickets are available here.