Discover a sleepy fishing harbour at the end of the First World War – home to a most curious story of one man, and the timeless tale of a love that defies all odds.

Born in the most unusual circumstances, Benjamin Button is an old man, not at the end of his life, but at the beginning. Trapped in a body where he doesn’t belong, locked away from the world and branded a monster, Benjamin dreams of freedom and adventure. And more than anything, he dreams of love. But just as he gives up hope, resigning himself to a life of solitude, a miracle occurs – a local girl, by the name of Elowen Keene.

But, as we all know, time and tide wait for no man, and as the decades pass, their lives begin to move in reverse. And when war calls Benjamin across the seas, time is not their only enemy.

The world premiere of this brand new musical is based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby and The Tender and the Damned. From Jethro Compton, associate artist of Hall for Cornwall, writer and director of White Fang (★★★★ The Times) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (★★★★ The Telegraph), and Darren Clark, winner of the MTI Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award, multi-award winning composer and lyricist of These Trees Are Made of Blood (“The music is a complete delight,” The Guardian) and Day of the Living (“Heart-breaking laments… violent, pitch-black lyrics,” The Times). From the award-winning team behind The Frontier, Sirenia, Capone and The Bunker Trilogy.

★★★★ ‘A marvellous makeover… I’d say there’s even scope for this West Country marvel to make it to the West End. Time well spent from finish to start.’ The Telegraph

★★★★ ‘Writer-director Jethro Compton strikes fringe gold. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is something very special indeed.’ Time Out

★★★★★ ‘This is the kind of all-too-rare night that reminds you why you fell in love with theatre in the first place.’ Whatsonstage

★★★★★ ‘An enchanting piece of theatre.’ Broadway World

★★★★★ ‘Jethro Compton and Darren Clark have, along with their collaborators, created something filled with actual magic.’ The Reviews Hub

★★★★★ ‘As the house lights came up, a shared realisation among the audience that what we had seen was something special, beautiful and unique.’ The Upcoming

Tuesday, 21 May – MMD Post Show Talk Back, 6pm

Between the matinee on Tuesday 21st May and the evening show on Tuesday 21st May there will be an MMD (Mercury Musical Developments) Post Show Talk Back. The panel will be Jethro Compton (Producer/Book & Lyrics), Darren Clark (Musical Director/Music & Lyrics) and Ellie Gauge (Associate Director) of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Erica Campayne (Relationship Manager, Arts Council England) and Matt Bugg (Writer/Producer). It will be chaired by Victoria Saxton (Mercury Musical Developments).

The talk back is free with a ticket to either performance on Tuesday 21st May.