Robbie Williams and his songwriting partner Guy Chambers, together with playwright Mark Ravenhill, will collaborate on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical theatre version of David Walliams’ best selling The Boy in the Dress which will debut in Stratford-upon-Avon later this year.
Directed by the RSC’s artistic director Gregory Doran, the musical will receive its world premiere from 8 November 2019 until 8 March 2020 as part of the prestigious theatre company’s 2019 Winter season.
Unveiling details of the musical, Doran said: “Building on a successful tradition of new work created by the RSC for Christmas, we open our season with our new musical production of The Boy in the Dress, adapted by Mark Ravenhill, which I will direct.
“Based on the much-loved children’s novel, this funny and life-affirming story has been over six years in the making and features the coming-together of some of the UK’s best-loved creative talent: comic writer and performer, David Walliams, and chart-topping songwriters Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. It’s a beautifully crafted story about football and fashion, and a passionate celebration of individuality.”
Commenting on the latest chapter in The Boy in the Dress story, Walliams said: “I’m delighted to be working with the Royal Shakespeare Company to bring this, my first children’s novel, to the stage. It’s now 10 years since The Boy in the Dress was first published and we’ve come a long way in that time. Ultimately, I wanted to write a story that encouraged people to recognise that difference can be celebrated, that it’s ok to be yourself.
“I’ve always loved musicals and, somehow, I’d always imagined this book to be made into a musical so to be working with the RSC, Mark Ravenhill and song-writing partners Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers on this new production feels like a dream collaboration.”
Previously adapted for television in 2014, Walliams’ successful debut novel will be transformed into a stage musical by playwright and actor Mark Ravenhill.
Describing the development of the show, Ravenhill said: “I first came across The Boy in the Dress when I was playwright in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company back in 2012. I remember thinking that it was such a gripping, entertaining and life-affirming story with all the ingredients of a great stage show.
“The Royal Shakespeare Company has a fantastic track record of producing family shows so when David suggested making his novel into a musical, I thought, let’s go for it!
“Creating and commissioning new work is very much at the heart of the RSC’s mission, and a musical collaboration of this kind is the perfect celebration of all of that energy, talent and generosity coming together to create, what will hopefully be a really fantastic theatre experience for audiences of all ages.”
Discussing their involvement in the project, Williams and Chambers added: “We’re beyond excited to be working with the RSC on our first musical theatre collaboration. We are both big fans of David’s books, so when he approached us about writing the soundtrack to a new musical version of The Boy in the Dress for the RSC, we were genuinely delighted.
“There’s a real freshness, cheekiness and heart to David’s writing which we’ve worked really hard to capture in the music. It’s been a really exciting and rewarding journey and we can’t wait to share the show with audiences when it premieres in Stratford-upon-Avon this winter”.
The production will be designed by Robert Jones, with choreography by Aletta Collins, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis.
Angela Thomas
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