New Cornish Play ‘Pearl o’ Wisdom’ to Premiere at the Minack Theatre This July

Published On: 7 July 2025Last Updated: 7 July 2025By CornishStuff

A new Cornish play set to debut at the iconic cliffside theatre before heading on tour

A brand new Cornish play packed with magic, mystery and heritage is set to premiere at the Minack Theatre on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th July 2025, before going on tour around Cornwall.

Pearl o’ Wisdom, written by local playwright Tamara Rosenwyn, has been specially commissioned by the Minack and will be performed by students of the Minack Acting Academy.

Inspired by Cornish life, myth and memory

Tamara, who began writing plays in her village through her group Lizard Arts, Film & Theatre Association, was invited to write for the Academy after showcasing her work to script editor Jane Pugh and participating in workshops with The Writers’ Block. After a successful community performance in summer 2024, she was approached by John Brolly, Associate Director of the Minack, to create an original piece for the Academy.

“I’m so grateful to Jane and John for recognising my ambitions and believing in my work,” said Tamara. “It’s a huge achievement to be writing for such a globally recognised theatre. From school trips there as a young child, it has always been a place that I have aspired to write for!”

Tamara added, “I am passionate about Cornwall and its people, past and present, but I see many people who are experiencing challenges in this rapidly changing world. I want these experiences to be interwoven into my plays to give a representation of the stories I hear today.”

Celtic myth and storytelling across generations

Pearl o’ Wisdom follows the story of Pearl, a sharp-witted elderly woman, and her teenage carer, Rose, as they rediscover their imagination through Celtic myth, sprites and a standing stone. Tamara said the play is “a comical, poetic play which addresses my own fears about the loss of intergenerational storytelling in an increasingly distracted world.”

The production marks the third outing for the Minack Acting Academy, which helps young people in Cornwall develop the theatre skills they need to pursue a career in the performing arts. Previous performances by the Academy have been warmly received.

“The Minack Academy bring a heart-thumping, blood-pumping energy and joie de vivre” – Review, The Light Burns Blue 2024

“It was marvellous” – Audience comment, Antigone 2023

John Brolly said, “This is the first time we have commissioned a new writer for our Academy and we are so pleased to offer our young actors Tamara’s original and locally inspired play. Our Academy actors grow and develop industry professional skills here, on a world-famous stage. With Pearl o’ Wisdom, they can apply their skills to an original play, learning about Cornish dialect and stories that connect them to the area they live in.”

Part of a week of performances at the Minack

The debut of Pearl o’ Wisdom is part of a packed week of events celebrating the Minack’s Learning and Participation programme. Other highlights include:

Smash Hits from the Shows (12th–13th July): A collection of songs from classic Jukebox Musicals, performed by the Minack Musical Theatre Academy and Rising Stars.
The Cornish Avengers (14th–15th July): A brand new musical written by John Brolly, presented by the Minack Theatre in collaboration with Cornwall Music Service Trust. The performance features choirs from 10 West Cornwall primary schools, Cape Cornwall School and the Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir.

Tickets and further details about performances at the Minack Theatre can be found on their official website: minack.com