Full casting has been announced by Children’s Touring Partnership for the first UK tour of Samuel Adamson’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild, which plays a short London run in late March.
Beginning at Chichester Festival Theatre on 10 February, the production will be performed in venues spanning Plymouth to Edinburgh, including a London stint at the Hackney Empire from 22-25 March.
Morpurgo’s novel, based on a true story, is brought to life in this award-winning production. Originally produced by Regent’s Park Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre, this epic production, complete with spectacular life-size puppets, tells an emotional and moving story of love, loss and loyalty and of living for the moment.
The lead role of Lilly will be shared by three young actresses, Jemima Bennett, India Brown and Annika Whiston. Dad/Red Bandana will be played by Kazeem Toisin Amore, Grandma by Liz Crowther, Mahout/Kaya by Stephen Hoo, Dr Geraldine by Corinna Powlesland, Mr Anthony by Jack Sandle, and Mum by Balvinder Sopal.
The puppeteers will be Darcy Collins (Frank, the baby orangutan), Romina Hytten (orangutan Mani Head), Fred Davis (Mani Body), Elisa de Grey (elephant Oona Trunk), James Charlton (Oona Head), Michael Peters (Oona Heart), and Wela Mbusi (Oona Hind), with Gareth Aled and Scarlet Wilderink as alternate puppeteers.
Running Wild is the story is of a girl named Lilly, who, whilst on holiday with her mother in Indonesia, takes an elephant ride. During the ride, Oona, the elephant, suddenly becomes anxious and runs from the beach deep into the jungle with Lilly on her back, forcing her to learn to survive the rainforest. And then the hunters come…
Running Wild plays at the Hackney Empire from 22-25 March; to book your tickets, visit the venue’s website.