Griff Rhys Jones and Miriam Margolyes (pictured below) at voiceover recording sessions for Where is Peter Rabbit? Pictures: Steve Finn
Stage and screen stars Miriam Margolyes and Griff Rhys Jones are lending their voices to new family musical adventure Where is Peter Rabbit? which will receive its world premiere at the Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on Windermere on 27 June.
The show, which adds the wit of leading playwright Alan Ayckbourn to the timeless magic of Beatrix Potter, combines live performance, projection and recorded material.
The voices of Margolyes and Jones will be heard alongside performances from the six ensemble players: Grace Eccle (Titanic, Toronto); Steven Hardcastle (BBC TV’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Olivier Mawdsley (Godspell); Danielle Morris (Gypsy); Katie Shearman (The Sound of Music tour) and Molly Walters (The Tiger Who Came To Tea tour).
The brainchild of the owners of The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, renowned theatre set designer Roger Glossop and his theatre producer wife, Charlotte Scott, the show will bring to life some of Potter’s best loved characters.
With long-time friend and associate Ayckbourn on board to help transform Potter’s words into lyrics, the couple brought in composer Steven Edis (The Silver Sword, Birdsong and The Invisible Man) to provide the music.
Following on from his innovative designs for the attraction when The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction opened 25 years ago, Glossop has designed a new theatre set that lovingly re-creates the literary world of the author.
Rhys Jones, who has recorded readings of the tales of Peter Rabbit and Jeremy Fisher for the show, said: “I don’t think we cherish things quite as much as we do children’s books, handed down like golden gems; and it’s remarkable to think that these stories are still so loved, as we celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th anniversary.
“The Old Laundry Theatre is rather wonderful too, as they have such a great programme at this flourishing little theatre in the middle of the Lake District.”
Margolyes, who lends her distinctive voice to the stories of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck, added: “The characters leap into your heart. You can tell the little books were written a while ago, but there is a directness and a freshness that comes through the text and they will live for all time.”
Referring to the distinctive venue, Margolyes added: “I’ve played the Old Laundry Theatre and it is the most beautiful theatre to work in. I love the Lake District and I think it’s one of the pre-eminent and beautiful parts of England.”
The creative team behind the show, which will run for ten weeks this summer, also includes Tim Reid who will provide innovative animation and projections; the cast costume designer is Caroline Hughes, and the character costumier is Lucy Nye, the designer of the attraction’s original character costumes. The character designers and makers are long-time colleagues of Glossop – Caroline Dalton and Phil ‘Swifty’ Swift.
Lighting design will be by Jason Taylor, sound design will be by Sulley Glossop Sound, and the show will be directed and choreographed by Sheila Carter.
The musical will play up to three shows a day until 4 September, and will fit in alongside special events including character breakfasts at the popular tourist attraction. Part of the 25th birthday celebrations for the popular attraction in the heart of Potter’s much-loved Lake District, the show will also be one of a number of events planned to mark the 150th anniversary of Potter’s birth.
Glossop says: “Beatrix Potter has dominated our lives for the last 25 years (in a good way!), so it is fantastic to have a double celebration for our 25th and her 150 years throughout 2016. From the day we opened the doors 25 years ago, Beatrix Potter has taken us on an exhilarating journey – exhibition, garden, shop, restaurant, online, theatre and ongoing – we couldn’t have aligned our creative and business life with a more original, entrepreneurial and visionary woman.”
Angela Thomas
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