The play centres on the last two days of Byng’s life.  He knows he is to be executed at noon on the 14th March 1757 and reflects on his past. Played by Peter Tate, he is the main character to which the other cast members relate. Chris Barritt plays his manservant Hutchens.  Boyd’s sister Sarah (Corrina McDermott) and Hervey (Merric Boyd) a naval officer and friend, are convinced he should not be killed.

To deal with the setting, author (Christopher Swann) uses two sailors played by Randy Smartnick and James Shenoi, to sing the history and its tragic outcome. The stage designed by Peter Bingemann is simple but effective; there are two large sail like panels that are moved to the sides to change scenes.

As the eventual outcome is known it presents a difficulty in holding the audience’s interest over the two hours and in this, the play failed. The first Act sets the scene but towards the end of the second Act in a dream, Voltaire, has a long debate with Byng over his future after he has died.  I could not see the benefit of this discourse and would have preferred the play to finish earlier. In conclusion unless you are interested in the history of 250 odd years ago there is little you can take from this production, it could and should be better.