The secret’s out. The smash-hit production of Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical, last seen in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2017, is transferring to the West End this summer.
The famous story of the tortured teenage intellectual who encounters teenage angst, family struggles and unrequited love, will play at the Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited season from 15 June until 12 October.
“Honestly. My family just don’t understand me. Perhaps when I am famous and my diary is discovered people will understand the torment of being a 13¾ year-old intellectual”. Set in 1980s Leicester, the tongue-in-cheek show centres on the titular tortured poet and misunderstood intellectual.
Based on Sue’s best-selling book, this critically acclaimed musical has book and lyrics by Jake Brunger, music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, and direction from Luke Sheppard. Casting for the West End transfer is to be announced.
To get a sense of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical, check out our video from the show’s Menier 2017 press night:
The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical started life at Leicester’s Curve Theatre in 2015, prior to transferring to London.
The book was Townsend’s first novel, and was originally published in 1982 by Methuen, and is now published by Penguin Books. It forms the first of eight Adrian Mole books, and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, with translations into 30 languages.
The musical has choreography by Rebecca Howell, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, and musical direction by Mark Collins.