In a major international co-production between the Mercury Theatre Colchester and the Marjanishvili Theatre Tbilisi. five actors (four British and one Georgian) combine with scores of beautiful character puppets, skilfully manipulated by ten Georgian puppeteers, to bring Louis de Bernières classic to the stage, directed by one of Georgia’s leading directors.

Mercury Theatre Colchester Marjanishvili Theatre Tbilisi in association with NFA International Arts and Culture   Louis de Bernières’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Adapted for the stage by Mike Maran Directed by Levan Tsuladze Puppets by Nino Namitcheishvili Music by Vakhtang Kakhidze

A wonderful story of laughter and tears, life and death, love, coffee and a goat.   The date is 1941. War has engulfed the beautiful Greek island of Cephalonia and Mussolini’s Italian forces invade. Amid the chaos an unlikely love story starts to blossom.   Betrothed to a patriotic Greek fisherman, Pelagia’s life veers from the traditional when mischievous Italian Captain Corelli wins her over with his music, benevolence and zest for life. But can their love survive when the Italians are replaced by a German occupation?   Any fool can fall in love. Love is what is left after falling in love has fallen away