HEARTWRENCHING
WARTIME TALE MAKES NEWCASTLE DEBUT
The
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Newcastle
Theatre Royal
Tuesday
19 – Saturday 23 May 2015
The
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a world stage premiere of the bestselling novel
by John Boyne, is set to make its Newcastle debut at the Theatre Royal in
May. Be prepared to be stirred, stunned
and heartbroken.
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Photo: Manuel
Harlan
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The Boy in the Striped
Pyjamas is an emotive tale of an
unlikely friendship between two innocent boys. Set during World War II, the
story is seen through the eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son
of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has
startling and devastating consequences.
John Boyne’s 2006 novel has sold millions of copies around the
world and has appeared on many bestseller lists including the New York Times
where it reached number one. It was made
into a Miramax feature film which was released in 2008.
This play is produced by The Children’s
Touring Partnership, which is led by independent producer Fiery Angel and a consortium of
major regional theatres. The Partnership has previously toured hit shows Goodnight Mister
Tom
(which won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family) and Swallows and Amazons.
Marianne
Oldham plays Mother. Marianne recently appeared in The Musketeers for BBC One; Foyle’s
War for ITV1 and was a lead regular role in The Crimson Field for BBC One. Her most recent film credit is Absolutely Anything, directed by Terry
Jones and starring alongside Kate Beckinsale.
Phil Cheadle
stars as Father. Phil has extensive
stage credits, including a local appearance in Blue Remembered Hills at Northern Stage. His TV credits include Crimson Fields; New Worlds; Silent Witness and Inspector Lynley to name but a few, and he has appeared in films John Carter; Comes A Bright Day and To The Sea.
The
role of Bruno during the Newcastle Theatre Royal run will be played by Jabez
Cheeseman, and Colby Mulgrew will play Shmuel, both 9 years old.
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Photo: Manuel
Harlan
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Edward Snape for the Children’s Touring Partnership
commented, ‘The Children's Touring
Partnership aims to produce and tour innovative, ambitious and engaging large scale theatrical productions for
children and families. After two years of development we are very excited by
this new commission which will bring this
extraordinary story to life on stage for the first time’.
As the book is a Key Stage 3 level school text for 11 - 14 year olds, there will be an extensive
education programme attached to this production and an
additional matinee performance to accommodate school parties.
Born in Dublin, John Boyne has published nine novels for adults, including his
most recent, A History
of Loneliness (2014). As well as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John has written three other novels for younger readers: Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010), The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (2012) and Stay Where You Are And Then Leave (2013).
The
production has been adapted for the stage by Angus Jackson, Associate Director
of Chichester Festival Theatre. His Chichester credits include Neville’s Island
(now playing in the West End) and King Lear (also New York), The Browning
Version (also West End), Goodnight Mr Tom (also national
tour), and Bingo (also Young Vic). For the National Theatre he
directed Rocket to the Moon, The Power of Yes, Fix
Up and Elmina’s Kitchen (also tour and West End).
His film of Elmina’s Kitchen won him a BAFTA Best New Director
nomination.
The
director is Joe Murphy, the Artistic Director of nabokov, a new writing company
which is dedicated to making work in response to immediately relevant
social and political themes. Joe’s 2010
production Bunny won the Scotsman Fringe First Award following its
premiere in Edinburgh and went on to tour the UK.
Design
is by Robert Innes Hopkins, who renews his collaboration with Angus Jackson
following several hit productions at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Lighting
design is by Malcolm Rippeth, an Associate Artist of Kneehigh where his credits
include Brief Encounter, which was a
sell-out success at Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2009.
The
composer is Stephen Warbeck whose credits include the film Shakespeare in Love
for which he won an Academy Award.
On The Web:
Website: www.theboyinthestripedpyjamas.com
Tickets:
The Boy
in the Striped Pyjamas appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tue
19 – Sat 23 May 2015 (Evenings
at 7pm, Matinees
on Wed, Thu, Sat 2pm).
Recommended age 11+ Tickets are from £13.50 (pay less online) and can be
purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your
own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
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