What is being billed as “the greatest extravaganza the Island of Bermuda has ever seen” opened on Monday in an area of the Victualling Yard at Dockyard.

‘Pirates in Bermuda’ is a live stunt show performed against the backdrop of a pirate ship, and features an international cast of stunt men and women who fulfil various roles, including swashbuckling pirates; the fearsome pirate king, Thomas Tew; and the town’s commodore and citizenry.

Sword fighting, explosions, high falls and spectacular battles all add to the drama of the show, which is being performed four times a day, six days a week until October 1.

The show has been brought to Bermuda by Simac Productions, of which Bermuda’s only stunt man, Owen Simons, is the CEO. He sums up the show as “a journey of thrills, chills, suspense, imagination and drama”.

“Conceptually, we have developed a pirate theme which has the potential for some fascinating and breathtaking professional stunts performed in a controlled environment,” Mr. Simons (pictured, above) says.

“The set is a pirate ship built to scale with full mast and armament, and a complement of pirates. Picture it docked in the port of a 16th century mining village, which is also part of the set. Tew is captain of the ship, and the action-filled plot begins when he and his fellow pirates come ashore to pillage the town.

Ranged against them are the town’s commodore and the citizenry, among them a naive young man called Daniel, who agrees to assist Tew and his men with their needs. Mary, a young girl who runs the local pub, is introduced to Tew by Daniel, who is oblivious to the pirate king’s evil identity, but Mary is not.

These two young characters provide the romantic interest. Daniel has been in love with Mary forever, and sees her as an innocent, frail and fragile girl, while Mary likes Daniel but sees him as an innocent young boy. As the story unfolds, it emerges that first impressions are deceiving: when put to the test both are found to be equally courageous.

As Tew and his men attempt to smash their way through the town, the pitched battle is punctuated by explosions which launch actors into the air, while swords and weapons are wielded skilfully. As the mayhem continues, Daniel goes to Mary’s aid and discovers, to his amazement that, in Mr. Simons’ words, that she is “one heck of a sword fighter and brawler, who does a lot of hand-to-hand combat”.

How the story ends will only be revealed to those watching the show. Suffice it to say there is a lot of action, but also “lots of comedy”, according to Mr. Simons.

The production is currently awaiting the arrival of specialist equipment required for adding special pyrotechnic effects to the proceedings, which will include Mr. Simons, who has a role in the show, “catching fire”.

“I love being on fire,” he says. “It’s a rush, and I get a kick out of it. It allows me to feel alive.”

Understandably excited about ‘Pirates in Bermuda’, Mr. Simons claims it is not only the first stunt show to be brought here, but the first by a Bermudian who is also the Island’s only stunt man, so he is urging his fellow citizens to come out and give it their full support.

“The show is a theatrical production of the highest quality,” he says. “Simac Productions has assembled a team which includes some of the best stunt men and women in the industry, as well as seasoned professionals in the field of live show production and choreography.

“The set has been constructed by one of the industry’s respected designers in the US, and meets all of the safety requirements necessary to facilitate performance of the rigorous stunts. In addition, all of the stunt actors are highly trained professionals with years of stage combat experience, each of whom carries personal insurance. All stunts and pyrotechnics conform to Bermuda laws and regulations, and Simac is providing all of the requisite safety equipment.”

As good as this year’s show is, Mr. Simons is already looking ahead to next year, which he says will be “even bigger and better, with the theme arranged around Bermuda’s history”.

Meanwhile, Simac is also aiming to present the show internationally, and already has a November booking in Florida.

‘Pirates in Bermuda’ is performed every day except Wednesday at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Each performance last between 45 minutes and one hour.

To get there, enter the Victualling Yard from the “ferry stop end”, turn right and go behind the buildings. The show is located at the end of the area. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12.

The original Thomas Tew was connected historically to Bermuda. Born into a well-to-do family in Newport, Rhode Island, he moved to Bermuda in 1690, and was a successful privateer during Britain’s conflict with France. A year or so later, he was elected captain by members of the Amity venture and sent with a letter of marque from Bermuda Governor Isaac Richier to attack French ships and French slave stations on the West African coast. For further information see website www.thepiratesrealm.com.