Silver & Gold at The Golden Hinde
A one-man show, about Long John Silver, performed on a full-size Elizabethan galleon replica – based on the description, how can you possibly say no to that?
James Hyland is a veteran performer with over 25 years of acting experience, using it to create many one-man productions; among them is the one we’ve stepped aboard the Golden Hinde to see tonight, Silver & Gold (adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island). You want immersive? Right down to the musty smell and fear of banging your head against the ship’s extremely low ceilings, this is immersive to a tee.
Walking on board to stagger down two decks below, perhaps the only things missing are the baritone hums of “Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me” and a tankard of ale waiting at your seat. The bar towards the back – sorry, stern – does have some wines, beers and spirits to enjoy, though.
A snippet of a sea shanty begins proceedings, and Hyland enters to shut it down – this is the fabled Long John Silver before us, welcoming new recruits to serve as his crew. Throughout the show, he goes to great lengths to convince us he’s not the caricature his former cabin boy Jim Hawkins portrays him as in the book, which he reads out snippets from… there’s no parrot or missing leg here. He is, however, larger than life and in command of every situation he finds himself in – but does that warrant such a villainous depiction? Granted, he does not serve the Navy, but by “redistributing the wealth” (not looting), is he really so bad? Even if a couple of buildings get burned down along the way? And he has six wives on the go?
This really is a treat for the audience: Hyland leaves the stage area more than once to address people directly, mere inches from their faces. His passionate delivery has peaks and valleys aplenty, one moment giving Shakespearean levels of drama and the next hamming it up, feeling almost Brian Blessed-esque. Given the near one-hour runtime, and he is the only credited performer, it never feels dull. Commanding the attention of about 30 people and being able to see the whites of their eyes is a task that lesser actors fear greatly; as for Hyland, he leans into the myth of Long John Silver and runs with the possibilities.
This staging of Silver & Gold was its debut London showing, and what better place for it than the bottom deck of a galleon? Wherever it’s staged next, it’s a play well worth seeing, for there’s more to life at sea than shanties and buxom women – but you’ll have to watch Hyland’s captivating performance to decide whether that’s the life for you.
Gem Hurley
Photo: Courtesy of Silver & Gold
Silver & Gold was at The Golden Hinde on 5th November 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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