Past Productions
Incle and Yarico by John Thelwall
In January 2007 SOS staged a reherased reading of John Thelwall’s unperformed and recently discovered anti slavery musical Incle and Yarico (1787) for an international conference organised by the University of the West of England. In 1990 SOS produced George Colman the Younger’s anti slavery musical Inkle and Yarico, also from 1787. A huge success when it opened, SOS’s production was the first for over 150 years.
It now seems Thelwall wrote his first and sent it to Colman Senior who kept it for several months before turning it down. Shortly afterwards he produced a musical by his son with the same title which became a huge hit. SOS has the distinction of being the only theatre company in the world to have staged both versions.
Thelwall’s Incle and Yarico is the story of young Thomas Incle who falls in love the the beautiful Princess Yarico after he is shipwrecked on the coast of Sout America. When his parents turn up unexpectedly –it’s a comedy as well!– Thomas learns his father is involved in the slave trade and wants to capture and sell Yarico and her maid Yahamona.
With 2009 the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, Incle and Yarico is of particular interest. If you’re interested in hosting a reading Contact us to find out more. The performance is suitable for conventional venues and non-theatre spaces (including schools) as technical requirements are minimum.
