A Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre and Nica Burns co-production
The Worst Witch
Adapted from Jill Murphy’s original books by Emma Reeves
Royal & Derngate, Northampton – Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018
Then touring to venues nationwide until 1 June 2019
Cast and creative team confirmed for world premiere of Made in Northampton production The Worst Witch at Royal & Derngate this Christmas before nationwide tour
The all-female cast has been confirmed for the world premiere production of The Worst Witch which opens at Royal & Derngate this Christmas as part of the theatre’s Made in Northampton season. An original story for the stage by Emma Reeves (Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s TV Programme and 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme) based upon Jill Murphy’s beloved series of classic novels The Worst Witch, the production will be directed by Theresa Heskins (2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People) and designed by Simon Daw, with music by Luke Potter.
The Worst Witch is co-produced by Royal & Derngate with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre and Nica Burns and will embark on a major national tour in 2019, after its run in Northampton.
The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future. The show features magic, puppetry, original music and plenty of Mildred’s unique brand of utter pandemonium.
Playing the hapless Mildred Hubble is Danielle Bird, whose recent stage credits include The Hypocrite (Royal Shakespeare Company/Hull Truck) and Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe). Taking the roles of Agatha and Miss Cackle is UK Theatre Award-winning actor Polly Lister whose credits include The Snow Queen (New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme) and Great Expectations (Derby Theatre). Rachel Heaton (Passing, Bunker Theatre) plays Miss Hardbroom. Rebecca Killick (Pink Mist, Bristol Old Vic) plays Maud, Rosie Abraham (Peter Pan Goes Wrong, West End and tour) plays Ethel and Anna Crichlow (Common, National Theatre) plays Enid. The cast is completed by Molly-Grace Cutler as Miss Bat/musician, Megan Leigh Mason as Miss Drill/musician, Emma Lau as Drusilla and Meg Forgan as Fenella/musician.
Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories have sold more than five million copies and been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC. Jill commented: “My first trip to the theatre aged four, opened up a magical world – so real to me, that I had to be restrained from climbing onstage to help the children in peril! My mum was quite cross with me, but I never wanted the show to end and sang the songs loudly all the way home on the bus. Imagine how proud I feel, all these years later, seeing my own Mildred Hubble on stage with all the characters from Miss Cackle’s Academy. I still feel thrilled to bits when I go to the theatre and I just know The Worst Witch is going to be a magical production.”
Emma Reeves added: “We’re creating a brand new story as well as revisiting moments from the books. Jealous Ethel Hallow is out to spoil Mildred’s fun, and Miss Hardbroom is opposed to all fun in general. But, without giving too much away, Mildred faces a greater danger than she ever imagined as an old enemy returns, with a plan for revenge that could threaten not just the Academy, but the whole world… “
Winner of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s Television Programme, and of the 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme for the television adaptations of The Worst Witch, Emma Reeves’ screen writing credits include Eve, The Dumping Ground, Young Dracula and The Story of Tracy Beaker. Her stage work includes the Olivier Award-nominated and critically acclaimed adaptation of Hetty Feather (UK tour and West End).
The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins, Artistic Director of the New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire. Theresa commented: “This year, when we’ve seen the start of a rebalancing of power within our society, it feels like an important time to be creating a play about young women who are learning, collectively and individually, to use their power; and the danger if they decide to use it not for good but for ill.”
Theresa’s past productions include The Snow Queen which won the 2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. Her wonderfully inventive and hugely popular production ofAround the World in 80 Days was nominated for the same award, in both 2015 and 2017, and will tour to America in 2019.
The show is designed by Simon Daw, whose credits include Baskerville (Liverpool Playhouse) andHumble Boy (Orange Tree Theatre). Lighting design is by Aideen Malone, whose credits include A Monster Calls (London Old Vic/Bristol Old Vic) and Peter Pan (National Theatre), and sound design is by Leigh Davies whose recent work includes Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester) andKing Lear (Old Vic). Original music will be composed by Luke Potter (Hetty Feather), while Vicki Amedume leads on Aerial Direction, Beverley Norris-Edmunds choreographs, and magician John Bulleid creates illusions for the show.
Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.
@RoyalDerngate / #MadeInNorthampton / #WorstWitchThePlay
Listings information:
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
Dates: Tuesday 27 November to Sunday 30 December 2018
Times: Times vary – see website for details
Tickets: From £11*
Box Office: 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk
* A charge of £3 applies for all transactions £15 and over. Does not apply to Groups, Friends or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.
Royal & Derngate Christmas Show Dates
and 2019 UK Tour Details:
Northampton, Royal & Derngate – Tue 27 Nov – Sun 30 Dec
royalandderngate.co.uk
Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre – Tue 29 Jan – Sat 2 Feb
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Cambridge Arts Theatre – Wed 6 – Sun 10 Feb
Tickets On Sale Soon
Hull, New Theatre – Tue 12 – Sat 16 Feb
hulltheatres.co.uk
Derby Theatre – Mon 18 – Wed 20 Feb
derbytheatre.co.uk
Canterbury Marlowe Theatre – Thu 21 – Sat 23 Feb
marlowetheatre.com
Dartford Orchard Theatre – Wed 27 Feb – Sun 3 Mar
orchardtheatre.co.uk
Southampton Mayflower Theatre – Wed 6 Mar – Sat 9 Mar
mayflower.org.uk
Malvern Theatre – Tue 12 – Sat 16 Mar
malvern-theatres.co.uk
Leicester Curve – Tue 19 – Sun 24 Mar
curveonline.co.uk
Salford Lowry – Tue 26 – Sun 31 Mar
thelowry.com
Plymouth, Theatre Royal – Tue 9 – Sat 13 April
theatreroyal.com
Norwich, Theatre Royal – Tue 16 – Sat 20 April
Tickets Go On Sale 9 November 2018
Coventry, Belgrade Theatre – Wed 24 – Sat 27 April
belgrade.co.uk
Edinburgh, King’s Theatre – Tue 7 – Sun 12 May
capitaltheatres.com
Birmingham Hippodrome – Wed 22 – Sun 26 May
Birminghamhippodrome.com
Liverpool Playhouse – Tue 28 May – Sat 1 June
Tickets Go On Sale Late November 2018
More dates to be added