“One day you’ll die and there's nothing you can do!

You can diet and exercise and even pray too,

but all the protein shakes and gods up in the sky

can’t save you from the fact that one day you will DIE!”

In a land long ago and time far away, a brave knight is summoned to bring life back to the dying king. Is he dead? Maybe. Are his three evil advisors propping him up and carrying him around so that they may live the good life of creamed corn and gravy? It’s possible. The one thing that is certain is that the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of the brave knight, their squire, their crazy friend Death!

In Pummel Squad’s third annual Christmas Pantomime an ensemble of 25 performers play witches, knights, death, some crusty old advisors and peasants galore. A celebration of more more more! A festival of history! A big fun pantomime that is about our collective fear of death, our collective fear of legacy and Christmas… kind of… not really that last one.

“How the King Learned to Live Forever is an untraditional pantomime imbued with the wit and wildness of a team letting their sillies out. The show marks Pummel Squad’s third annual end-of-year pantomime, and also marks my introduction to their work. I had no idea the ride I was in for.”

- Natasha Dyson, Stage Door Reviews

“Pummel Squad have gained a reputation for their wild, physical, silly, cartoonish, hilarious, idiosyncratic, poor theatre over the last few years… I finally understand all the superlatives that have been thrown their way.”

- Keith Gow, Theatre First

Written and Directed by Cooper Donald McDonald, Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta and Harry McGee

Producer and Dramaturg: Mark Pritchard

Set and Costume Design: Pummel Squad

Costume Design Consultants: Savanna Wegman & Lucy Mills

Lighting Designer: John Collopy

Sound Design: Justin Gardam

Cast: Damon Baudin, Bailey Ackling Beecham, Keegan Bell, Sam Buckley, Sonya Chong, Sophia Derkenne, Maddi Formosa, Sybilla George, Eliza Grundy, Blake Hohenhaus, Molly Holohan, Chris Kemp, Harry McGee, Ludomyr Kemp-Mykyta, Stefan Kemp-Mykyta, Sasha Lanyon, Michael Leonard, Indra Liyanaarachchi, Cooper Donald McDonald, Halyna Mykyta, Dan O’Halloran, Karl Richmond, and Lauren Swain.

View the show programme here