Bolton’s Octagon Theatre has unveiled the high-powered creative team transforming Markus Zusak’s much-loved novel The Book Thief into a stage musical.
Featuring a script by award-winning author Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper) and Timothy Allen McDonald (adaptor of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and James and the Giant Peach) and music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure), the musical will receive its world premiere in Bolton from 17 September until 15 October 2022.
Commenting on the production, co-writer Picoult said: “The Book Thief, as a novel, is a blockbuster that has sold over 20 million copies and deeply moved readers all over the world. Having the chance to bring it to life three-dimensionally in a world premiere musical at the Octagon is a dream for us! The story of a foster child in Nazi Germany – who learns the power words have to both hurt and to heal – feels painfully relevant today. We hope that Liesel’s journey will inspire audiences to take a stand in the face of adversity, and to be agents of change in an increasingly divided world.”
The musical’s director, the Octagon’s artistic director, Lotte Wakeham added: “I am absolutely thrilled to be opening our new season with this world premiere brand new musical adaptation of one of my all-time favourite books.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been busy workshopping the show and I cannot wait for audiences to finally see it! It’s an incredibly relevant, moving story and I’m so happy to be staging it in Bolton in our wonderful, newly refurbished theatre.
“I am delighted that we can now announce the brilliant creative team who will be working with me on the production – they are all incredibly talented individuals who have already brought so many fantastic and imaginative ideas to the process. I’m confident that we’re going to create a beautiful and timeless piece of musical theatre.”
The Book Thief will be choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves (Amélie, Criterion Theatre; Rent, Hope Mill Theatre), with musical direction and orchestrations by Matthew Malone (Coming to England, Birmingham Rep; Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and design from Good Teeth (James Perkins and Victoria Smart – The Winter’s Tale, Shakespeare’s Globe, Little Shop of Horrors, Royal Exchange Manchester).
The production will also feature lighting design by Nic Farman (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, UK tour, Spring Awakening, Hope Mill Theatre), puppet design by Samuel Wilde (The Fir Tree, Shakespeare’s Globe, Electra, Bunker Theatre), sound design by Andy Graham (The Upstart Crow, Apollo Theatre; One Man, Two Guvnors, Octagon Theatre), associate director Georgia Wang Murphy (Cyrano de Bergerac, Southwark Playhouse, Frills and Spills, Camden People’s Theatre), associate musical director George Strickland (Good Fun, King’s Head Theatre, The Regulars, Hope Mill Theatre), casting director Jacob Sparrow (City of Angels, Garrick Theatre, Our Town, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), assistant casting director Olivia Barr (Kes, Peter Pan, Octagon Theatre) and production manager Dan Turner (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Duke of York’s Theatre).
Angela Thomas
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