Real life twins Danielle and Nichole Bird will play the lead roles in The Prince And The Pauper, Mark Twain’s festive tale of confused identities, which plays at the Unicorn theatre this Christmas.
Suitable for children aged six and over, The Prince And The Pauper plays at the London Bridge venue from 25 November to 31 January.
The identical duo will take on the roles of Tom Canty and Edward VI in the Tudor tale about the chance meeting between a poor boy and the young heir to the throne, who by pure coincidence find that they look exactly the same. As Tom is forced into the world of royal intrigue and courtly power, Edward is cast down into a world of poverty and thieves from which he must fight his way back.
The talented twosome, who were last seen on screen in Mike Leigh’s short film Running Jump, which was commissioned for the London 2012 Festival, are joined in the production by Nicholas Boulton, Richard Evans, Jonathan Glew, Jake Harders, Jason Morell and Katherine Toy.
Directed by Selina Cartmell and adapted for the stage by Jemma Kennedy, the family show features live Tudor-inspired music performed by the eight-strong cast, who are tasked with performing 40 roles at the same time as singing and playing medieval instruments.
The Prince And The Pauper will play during the festive period alongside the Shakespearean voyage of discovery for younger children In A Pickle, which plays from 6 December.