Mr Popper and his penguins are heading back to the stage ahead of a West End Christmas season of the family-friendly musical which had its world premiere in the UK last year.
Presented by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment & TC Beech, Mr Popper’s Penguins will visit six UK venues and will also make its US debut in New York before its festive run at an, as yet unconfirmed, West End venue.
Based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater which was previously made into a hit Jim Carrey film, Mr Popper’s Penguins was adapted for the stage by Pins and Needles Productions with music by Luke Bateman and lyrics by Richy Hughes.
The inventive production, which is directed by Pins and Needles’ co-artistic director Emma Earle, combines live actors with puppetry. The show begins its pre-Christmas tour at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells (28 September until 1 October).
Russell Morton will once again take on the role of the eponymous Mr Popper with Roxanne Palmer also returning to the role of his wife. They will be joined in the cast by Scott Jones and puppeteers Lucy Grattan and Toby Manley.
Designed by Zoe Squire with puppetry design by Nick Barnes, the co-founder of puppetry company Blind Summit, the show features lighting design by Ric Mountjoy and sound design is by Jason Barnes.
After Tunbridge Wells, the production will play Exeter’s Northcott Theatre (4-8 October); New York’s New Victory Theatre (13-30 October); Curve Leicester (15-20 November); The Palace, Southend (24-27 November); Artsdepot, London (30 November-4 December); and Chichester Festival Theatre (7-11 December).
Angela Thomas
Readers may also be interested in:
Mr Popper’s Penguins – Lowry, Salford – Review
Interview – Roxanne Palmer shares the magic of Mr Popper’s Penguins
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