Kneehigh’s Mike Shepherd adapts Julia Donaldson’s ZOG for the stage at Rose Theatre Kingston

Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston present

ZOG
From the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler
 
World premiere stage adaptation
plays at Rose Theatre Kingston in February 2019
prior to a UK Tour
 
Adapted and directed by
Kneehigh founder and Artistic Director Mike Shepherd
 
 
Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston are delighted to announce the world premiere stage adaptation of Zog, based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, premiering at Rose Theatre Kingston from Thursday 14 to Saturday 23 February 2019 prior to a UK Tour.
 
Large in size, and keen in nature, Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know.  Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel with a knight, Sir Gadabout the Great! Zog promises to be roaring fun for all ages.
 
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Zog is adapted and directed by Mike Shepherd (founder and Artistic Director of Kneehigh) with an original folk score by Johnny Flynn (award-winning actor and singer-songwriter with The Sussex Wit) played live on stage. It is designed by Katie Sykes (Jane Eyre at the National Theatre).
 
Zog is produced by Freckle Productions and Rose Theatre Kingston. Freckle Productions’ most recent show is Tabby McTat, an adaptation of the book by Julia Donaldson, following their acclaimed productions of Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Stick Man. Rose Theatre Kingston’s other forthcoming family productions include a brand-new staging of The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss featuring original new songs, and for Christmas a magical new adaptation of Hansel & Gretel.
 
Julia Donaldson said today: “I’m tremendously excited that Zog will be taking flight around the UK in this first ever stage production. Going to the theatre can be a truly magical experience, I know it will be such a thrill to see the world of Zog being brought to life on stage.”
 
Jay Green and Jen Sutherland of Freckle Productions said: “Freckle has a proud and longstanding association with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler having adapted many of their wonderful books. We are delighted to now be partnering with Rose Theatre Kingston to bring Zog to the stage, in what will be a hugely exciting and imaginative adaptation by Mike Shepherd, with thrilling original music by Johnny Flynn.”
 
Jerry Gunn of Rose Theatre Kingston said: “Rose Theatre Kingston are thrilled to be welcoming Zog the dragon and his classmates to the stage for the very first time. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s wonderful creations have long been delighting children here in Kingston and across the country. We’ll have fire extinguishers at the ready for an adventure that promises to delight young children and their families alike.”
 
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the UK’s number one picture book pair and are creators of many modern classics, including The Gruffalo which is in 75 languages.
 
Zog was first published in 2010 and won the Galaxy National Children’s Book of the Year Award. Ithas gone on to become a perennial bestseller. For Christmas 2018, Magic Light Pictures will premiere an animated film of Zog on BBC One featuring an all-star cast, following their award-winning films such as The GruffaloRoom on the Broom and Stick Man.
 
Suitable for children and families of all ages. Casting and further tour dates to be announced.
 
Website: www.ZogLive.com
Twitter: @Freckle_Prods
Facebook: /FreckleProductions
Instagram: Freckle_Productions
 
 
LISTINGS
 
Thursday 14 – Saturday 23 February 2019
ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON
Performances: 11.00am, 1.30pm, 4.00pm (see website for daily schedule)
Press performance: Tuesday 19 February 2019, 4.00pm
Box office: www.rosetheatrekingston.org / 020 8174 0090
 
 
UK TOUR LISTINGS
 
Bold venues are on sale soon. All other venues are on sale now.
 
 
Thursday 28 February 2019
HARROGATE THEATRE
Box Office www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk / 01423 502 116
 
Friday 1 – Saturday 2 March 2019
THE SANDS CENTRE, CARLISLE
Box Office www.thesandscentre.co.uk / 01228 633766
 
Wednesday 6 – Thursday 7 March 2019
THE STABLES, MILTON KEYNES
Box Office www.stables.org / 01908 280 800     
 
Wednesday 13 – Thursday 14 March 2019
WYCOMBE SWAN
Box Office www.wycombeswan.co.uk / 01494 512 000
 
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 March 2019
IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE
Box Office: www.ipswichregent.com / 01473 433 100
 
Friday 29 – Saturday 30 March 2019
GALA THEATRE, DURHAM
Box Office www.galadurham.co.uk / 03000 266 600
 
Sunday 31 March – Tuesday 2 April 2019
SHEFFIELD CITY HALL
Box Office www.sheffieldcityhall.com / 0114 2 789 789  
 
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 April 2019
STORYHOUSE, CHESTER
Box Office www.storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113
 
Monday 8 – Tuesday 9 April 2019
GUILDFORD G LIVE
Box Office www.glive.co.uk / 01483 369350
Wednesday 10 – Thursday 11 April 2019
SWINDON WYVERN THEATRE
Box Office www.swindontheatres.co.uk / 01793 524 481
 
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 April 2019
CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE
Box Office www.cornex.co.uk / 01223 357851
 
Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 April 2019
ALBAN ARENA, ST ALBANS
Box Office www.alban-arena.co.uk / 01727 844488
 
Friday 19 – Monday 22 April 2019
BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL
Box Office www.thsh.co.uk / 0121 780 3333
 
Tuesday 23 – Wednesday 24 April 2019
HULL CITY HALL
Box Office www.hulltheatres.co.uk / 01482 300 306
 
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 April 2019
ST DAVID’S HALL, CARDIFF
Box Office www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk / 029 2087 8444
 
Friday 3 – Sunday 5 May 2019
DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE
Box Office www.orchardtheatre.co.uk / 01322 220 000
 
Wednesday 8 – Thursday 9 May 2019
THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY
Box Office www.theatresevern.co.uk / 01743 281281
 
Friday 10 – Sunday 12 May 2019
TYNE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE
 
Friday 17 – Sunday 19 May 2019
DARLINGTON HIPPODROME
 
Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 May 2019
THE CORE, CORBY
Box Office www.thecorecorby.com / 01536 470470     
 
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 May 2019
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
Box Office 
www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
 
Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 May 2019
NOTTINGHAM CONCERT HALL
Box Office www.trch.co.uk / 0115 989 5555
 
Wednesday 29 – Thursday 30 May 2019
BASINGSTOKE HAYMARKET
 
Friday 31 May – Sunday 2 June 2019
OXFORD PLAYHOUSE
Box Office www.oxfordplayhouse.com / 01865 305305
 
Wednesday 5 – Thursday 6 June 2019
MALVERN THEATRES
Box Office www.malvern-theatres.co.uk / 01684 892 277      
 
Friday 7 – Sunday 9 June 2019
THE LOWRY, SALFORD
Box Office www.thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000
 
Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 June 2019
THE RADLETT CENTRE
Box Office www.radlettcentre.co.uk / 01923 859291
 
Friday 21 – Sunday 23 June 2019
NORTHAMPTON ROYAL & DERNGATE
Box Office www.royalandderngate.co.uk / 01604 624811
 
Friday 28 – Sunday 30 June 2019
BELFAST WATERFRONT
Box Office www.waterfront.co.uk / 028 9033 4455
 
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July 2019
DEMONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER
Box Office www.demontforthall.co.uk / 0116 233 3111
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July 2019
EDEN COURT, INVERNESS
Box Office www.eden-court.co.uk / 01463 234 234
 
Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 July 2019
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN
Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July 2019
HEXAGON THEATRE, READING
 
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 July 2019
SWANSEA GRAND THEATRE
 
Friday 26 – Saturday 27 July 2019
ST GEORGE’S HALL, BRADFORD