The Robert Louis Stevenson Archive



Dramatizations of Stevenson's Life

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Thanks to Michael David for the information and quoted comments on which much of this page is based

Bownman, James. The Vandegrifter.
“A monologue about Fanny, performed by Gill Bowman, which, through telling her story, creates a true word picture of RLS.”

Cairney, John (1995). The Reluctant Advocate.
“A monologue crafted from Stevenson’s own writings, also performed by Cairney, which conveys much of the essence of Stevenson in dramatic form.” Given before an audience of lawyers in the Signet Library, Edinburgh, in January 1995. John Cairney has also published: The theatrical R.L.S.: an evaluation of the theatrical aspects of Robert Louis Stevenson (1993).

Cairney, John (19**). R.L.S.
Monologue.

Cairney, John (1995). Mr and Mrs RLS.
Duologue, adapted Cairney’s Stevenson solo R.L.S.. First performed by Alannah O'Sullivan and John Cairney at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews in 1980 and thereafter in the USA, in the Far East (supported by the British Council) and on P&O Cruises.

Campbell, Donald. Blackfriar’s Wynd.
“Deals with RLS’s roistering ‘velvet-coat’ days as a young man. Very much an Edinburgh play, written by one of Scotland’s finest playwrights.”

David, Michael (1999). Ultimate Islands.
“A play for three actors about RLS (played by Michael David) & Fanny, intended to rescue her from the misogynistic slurs of biographers & to present a truthful, credible portrait of RLS & their relationship.” The third main character is Sidney Colvin. ‘A gem of a play....beautifully written, sensitive & intelligent. Try to see this, even if you see nothing else on the Fringe’ (The Scotsman, 23/8/99). To be revived for Ed Fest 2000.

Decker, Keith (2000). Velvet Coat: The Ragged Luck of Robert Louis Stevenson.
One-man-show, performed in Monterey 26 Aug. 2000 (but based on earlier performances and still presented as a work-in-progress): deals with RLS’s stay in Monterey and the events leading up to it. [Performed again 25th August 2001]

Dixon, Lorna & Mike Duffy. Quicksilver!
“An impression of Robert Louis Stevenson. Two Scottish actors explore his life and imagination in a dream-like treasure hunt for the mercurial RLS.”

Dixon, Lorna and Mike Duffy (2001) Hyde and Seek! An exploration of Stevenson’s character and formative Edinburgh years together with a selections of his heroes and villains. [perfomed by the Crossfire Theatre Company in Queen Strreet Gardens in August 2000 and 2001]

Hines, Leonard J. & Frank King (1934). Tusitala (The Teller of Tales). A Play in Four Acts. London: Chatto & Windus.

Hinsdale, Harriet (1947). Robert Louis Stevenson. A Play. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers.

Knight, Alanna (adapted for the stage by John Cairney) (1973). The Private Life of Robert Louis Stevenson. First presented at the Aberdeen Arts Centre in March 1973, then at the Edinburgh Feestival in 1974. “A play for 2 actors, who principally portray RLS & Fanny, but also present, among others, Thomas Stevenson (RLS’s father) and Cummy (his childhood nurse). All the dialogue is taken from RLS’s writings.” Published Paisley: Wilfion (1984). The original script was for radio broadcast.

Knight, Alanna (with David Jensen) (1988). The Ballad Of Robert Louis Stevenson. pilot TV by Bon Accord Productions.

Morris, Aldyth (1995). Robert Louis Stevenson - Appointment on Molokai’i. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.

Planer, Nigel (2009). Death of the Long Pig. . Dir. Alexander Summers, Finborough Theatre, London SW10, 7 July – 1 August 2009. Set in the strange and supernatural surroundings of Samoa and Tahiti, Death of Long Pig explores the duality of experience from the perspectives of two great artists as they usher death into their island homes. As the final hour approaches, they face the eternal question: is it how we prepare for death that really governs the way we live?’

Reynolds, Edmond (2003). If I’m Spared: A Solo Play. St Helena: The Silverado Museum.

Rosen, Louis et al. (2000). A Child’s Garden - see stage versions.

Sessions, John (2000). Reconstructing Louis. BBC Radio 4 dramatization ?December 2000 (rebroadcast on BBC Radio 4 (‘The Saturday Play’) 1 June 2002), dir. Bruce Young. Focussing on the emotional side of Stevenson’s life (the relationship with his father and with Fanny etc.).

Tafiti Fuimaono, Lupeautino (199*?). Stevenson By Heart.A musical drama (music by Elder Alfred Morris). [An abbreviated concert performance was given at Vailima on 3rd December 2001 by students of the Church College of Samoa at Pesega; R.L.S. (Tusitala) played by Trevor Palupe, and Fanny (Aolele) by Tristar Nansen]

Thompson, John Cargill (1994). The Laird of Samoa.
“A perennially popular full-length monologue, performed frequently by Jack Shedden. The construction is similar to the above, with RLS becoming, in memory, his own young self, his father, Cummy etc. Thompson uses none of RLS’s own words & presents an emphatically SCOTCH Stevenson. Probably to be revived for Ed Fest 2000.” Published in Port and Lemon: the mystery behind Sherlock Holmes: a play ; The Laird of Samoa: a play. Edinburgh: Diehard (1994).

Wilkie, Neil (book & lyrics); Neil Wilkie & David Stoll (music) (1994). Teller of Tales.
A musical of Stevenson’s life 1873-1894, first performed at King’s Theatre, Edinburgh 12.7.1994.

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