An original musical theatre work titled Knights is sure to be a thrilling and engaging experience for the whole family.

The show takes the Algonquin Theatre stage on May 23 and runs for three performances, showing at 8 p.m. on May 23 and 24 and 2 p.m. on May 25.

Knights is written and directed by composer, writer, and performer John Oliver Peel, co-founder of the National Martial Arts Theatre Company.  

“The thought of using martial arts as an intricate part of a musical got my creative juices flowing,” said Peel. “I want this work to satisfy all of my loves in theatre.”

Peel was a popular fixture in the 1960s/70s rock scene, having played and sung for some of Canada’s most popular bands of the day. He toured with mainstream acts such as Jimmy Hendrix, the Turtles, Wilson Pickett, and many more.  His real love, however, has been classical music, broadway musicals and acting. His recent roles have included Fagin in Oliver and Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

Peel sees martial arts as a visual art, like dance, with some interesting differences. “The martial arts deal with the character of the practitioner in ways other arts do not. There is truth in the art that is immediate.”

Knights tells the story of three young martial artists who become involved with an ancient secret knighthood whose mission it is to protect the world from the dark forces that would possess it. Their lives are turned upside down as they enter a world of intrigue, mystery and romance. The tale follows their evolution from novices to strong characters of integrity and honour.

“When I wrote Knights, the main elements I was trying to capture were the growth of character through adversity and the folly of falling victim to the temptations of the world. Writing it as a musical allowed me to touch emotions that I was unable to express in words alone,” Peel said.

The musical is filled with action, laughter and wonder.

“Threading martial arts through the context of an action adventure story, combined with powerful music, is not only a feast for the eyes but a very thrilling and engaging experience for the audience,” said the show’s producer, assistant director and co-founder of the National Martial Arts Theatre Company Valerie Houston Peel.

Peel has composed 19 original musical pieces for the work and uses the heart-pounding beat of live drummers to punctuate the action.

The talented cast and musicians, 22 in total, hail from across Muskoka. The production is being stage-managed  by Lisa Gregory and her assistant Christine Cain. Visit www.martialartstheatre.net and click on “company” for the full list of names and bios.

“Working with this cast and staff has been a joy. Every one of the cast members has given many hours of martial arts practice as well as singing and acting rehearsal to bring this work to reality. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us,” Peel said.

Knights promises to be a theatrical experience the entire family will enjoy. All ages will find it captivating and entertaining.

Tickets for Knights are $25 for adults and $15 for youth and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.algonquintheatre.ca.

Knights is partially sponsored by Muskoka Futures.