Liz Pichon’s best-selling series TOM GATES comes alive on stage for the first time!
The award-winning series of books TOM GATES will receive its world stage premiere at the Capitol Theatre, Horsham on 14 February 2019 followed by a year-long UK tour. The producers behind the Olivier award nominated Gangsta Granny and the celebrated Horrible Histories stage shows have teamed up with acclaimed author and illustrator Liz Pichon to create a brand new story exclusively for the stage.
The show follows Tom as he tries to keep out of trouble while things go increasingly wrong at home and school. It features favourite characters from the stories including Tom’s best friends Derek and Norman and their band Dogzombies. It’s not easy to impress Amy Porter and moany Marcus Meldew is doing his best to disrupt things while their teacher Mr Fullerman keeps his beady eye on them all. Things aren’t made easier when his grandparents – The Fossils – announce a big surprise and his Mum, Dad and sister Delia are doing everything to make his life difficult, which means Tom will need all the help he can get to save the day!
With 14 books in the Tom Gates series so far, Liz Pichon is a multiple number one bestselling children’s author and illustrator. Over 5 million copies of Tom Gates books have sold in the UK and abroad and the Tom Gates series has been translated into 43 languages. Liz has won over 20 awards including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for ‘Best Fiction for 5 to 12 year olds’, multiple Specsaver Bestseller Awards and a Blue Peter Book Award – and badge! In 2017, Liz was the World Book Day illustrator.
The Birmingham Stage Company, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary year, is the award-winning producers of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie. The company produce all the Horrible Histories shows live on stage including the West End productions of Barmy Britain. The company also performs internationally, including David Almond’s Skellig on Broadway and Horrible Histories at The Sydney Opera House.
Tom Gates is an amazing adventure for all the family, especially for children from 5 to 12.
The show is adapted by Liz Pichon and Neal Foster with music by Mark Flannery, directed by Neal Foster, designed by Jackie Trousdale, lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by Nick Sagar.
Tour dates currently on sale are:
Capitol Theatre, Horsham 14 – 17 Feb 2019
Bristol Hippodrome 20 – 23 Feb 2019
Lyceum Theatre, Crewe 27 Feb – 2 Mar 2019
Darlington Hippodrome 6 – 9 Mar 2019
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 13 – 16 Mar 2019
Richmond Theatre 20 – 24 Mar 2019
King’s Theatre, Southsea 27 – 31 Mar 2019
Guild Hall, Preston 10 – 14 Apr 2019
Liverpool Empire 17 – 21 Apr 2019
New Theatre, Hull 1 – 5 May 2019
Milton Keynes Theatre 8 – 11 May 2019
Swan Theatre, High Wycombe 5 – 9 Jun 2019
Playhouse, Weston Super Mare 12 – 16 Jun 2019
More dates on sale soon…