A Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and Northern Stage co-production in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
WORLD PREMIÈRE
The Lovely Bones
By Alice Sebold
Adapted by Bryony Lavery
Directed by Melly Still
- ALICE SEBOLD’S GLOBAL BESTSELLING BOOK, THE LOVELY BONES IS BROUGHT TO LIFE ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME
- THE LOVELY BONES RECEIVES ITS WORLD PREMIÈRE IN A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE, ROYAL & DERNGATE AND NORTHERN STAGE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN & PLAYHOUSE
- ADAPTED BY BRYONY LAVERY, DIRECTED BY MELLY STILL AND COMMISSIONED BY BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
The world premiere of The Lovely Bones, one of the bestselling novels of the 21st century and now adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery and directed by Melly Still, will open at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 1 September 2018 before transferring to partner theatres Everyman Liverpool, Northern Stage, Newcastle and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The show will also tour to The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.
Alice Sebold’s unique coming-of-age tale captured the hearts of readers throughout the world when it was first published in 2002. An uplifting story about life after loss, The Lovely Bones, achieved critical acclaim and became an instant bestseller across the world. It won the Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Fiction 2003 and was on Oprah’s Book Club list for 2010.
The Lovely Bones tells the story of young girl Susie Salmon, who is just like any other girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. There’s one big difference though – Susie is dead. Susie can only observe while her family cope with their grief in their different ways. Her father, Jack is obsessed with identifying the killer. Her mother, Abigail is desperate to create a brighter future. And her sister, Lindsay is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that Susie will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them.
Alice Sebold today expressed her excitement to “see The Lovely Bones as a play and to see its characters come to life on stage” whilst Bryony Lavery spoke of her passion for this “rich, funny, tough, healing book” saying that “I’ve found that the huge story is very, very happy to change its medium and reveal its treasures on the stages at five of the UK’s leading theatres. I am a most fortunate playwright!”
Bryony Lavery’s acclaimed work includes the Tony Award-winning Frozen (due to be revived in the West End this spring) Stockholm (Frantic Assembly), Kursk (Young Vic) and Beautiful Burnout(National Theatre of Scotland and Frantic Assembly).
Bringing The Lovely Bones to life on stage is director Melly Still, whose credits include the acclaimed Olivier and Tony Award-nominated production of Coram Boy (National Theatre and Broadway), My Beautiful Friend (Rose Theatre Kingston) and several recent productions for Glyndebourne, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
#LovelyBones18
Listings Information:
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
National Press Night: Wednesday 5 September at 7pm
Dates: Saturday 1 to Saturday 22 September 2018
Times: Evenings 7.45pm (except Wednesday 5 September 7pm)
Matinees – Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm (excl. Saturday 1 September)
No performances on Sundays
Tickets: On sale in March
Box Office: 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Everyman Liverpool, Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BH
Dates: Tuesday 25 September to Saturday 6 October 2018
Press Night: Wednesday 26 September
Tickets: On general sale from 19 March
Box Office: 0151 709 4776 or online at www.everymanplayhouse.com
Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RH
Press Night: Tuesday 9 Oct, 7.30pm
Dates: Tuesday 9 October until Saturday 20 October 2018
Times: Evenings 7.30pm, Wednesday 10 October, 6pm
Matinees Saturday 13, Wednesday 17 & Saturday 20 October 2pm
No performances on Sundays
Tickets from £10
Box Office: 0191 230 5151 or online at www.northernstage.co.uk
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham
B1 2EP
Dates: Tuesday 30 October until Saturday 10 November 2018
Times: 7.30pm Monday – Saturday, apart from 7pm on Wednesday 31 Oct. Matinees at 2pm on Thursday 1, Saturday 3, Thursday 8 and Saturday 10 November
Tickets: From £10 (subject to availability)
Box Office: 0121 236 4455 or online at www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich IP1 2AS
Dates: Tuesday 13 November until Saturday 17 November 2018
Times: 7pm Tuesday, 7.45pm Wednesday to Saturday, 2.30pm Matinees Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 November
Tickets: From £10 (subject to availability)
Box Office: 01473 295900 or online at wolseytheatre.co.uk