Winner of 2
2015 Elliott Norton Awards
A new play inspired by “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

About the Play

About The Play

This fast-paced adventure story explores the themes of regret, isolation and the interconnected relationship between human beings and the natural world we inhabit. It takes its inspiration from Coleridge’s Mariner, an 18th-century sailor who is cursed with immortality and is thrust into the modern world. Written and performed as a rollicking sea yarn, Albatross delivers a profound and relevant message about mindfulness and the effect of our thoughtless actions on all living things. The audience sets sail in a spare but visually thrilling stagecraft, powered by the latest multimedia technology. Immersed in this sensory otherworld, audiences come to find out who the Mariner is, why he must forever tell his story, and what he is searching for as he roams the earth.

Called "Spell Binding" by WBUR Boston, "Captivating" by The Boston Globe, and praised as "impressive and dazzling" with its "striking dramatic text" and its "exhilarating language" by The Arts Fuse, Boston, Albatross thrilled audiences at its premiere at The Poets' Theater, Boston.


About The Mariner

About The Mariner

In every sense, the Mariner is everyman. He shows tenderness and cruelty, gets caught in disastrous situations that are partially of his own making, defiles nature and then gains appreciation for the natural world, and ultimately moves from random acts to accepting that there is a price associated with how we live our lives. A fresh and compelling character who captivates audiences, the Mariner, as created by Matthew Spangler and Benjamin Evett, is rough and uncouth, funny and harsh, iconic and unforgettable.


By Matthew Spangler & Benjamin Evett