Royal & Derngate Announces World Premiere Of PIPPI LONGSTOCKING

Royal & Derngate announces another world premiere production, a musical staging of Pippi Longstocking, for the venue's Made in Northampton 2019 Christmas show. Meanwhile, the venue's 2018 Christmas production of The Worst Witch continues to tour the UK. Pippi Longstocking is adapted for the stage for the first time by Mike Akers from Astrid Lindgren's much-loved books, with original music by Stu Barker. It will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble's Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton who co-directed Education, Education, Education for Royal & Derngate in 2017.

Celebrating nearly 75 years since Astrid Lindgren first conceived Pippi Longstocking as "the strongest girl in the world", this stage premiere of one of our best loved children's books promises an epic musical adventure set against a Northamptonshire backdrop that will be created especially for Christmas audiences at Royal & Derngate.

Nine-year-old Pippi is strong, brave and fearless. When she comes to live in her new home with her monkey and horse but with no parents and no rules, she brings mischief, chaos and confusion to the folk of this ordinary Midlands town. Pippi takes charge of her own crazy adventures, with her two new friends, Tommy and Annika. What else would you expect from the daughter of a swashbuckling pirate captain?

Pippi Longstocking has been adapted for the stage by playwright Mike Akers whose numerous family shows include Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Jane Eyre for Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre.

Composed by Stu Barker, whose West End and Broadway credits with Kneehigh Theatre Company include Brief Encounter and The Red Shoes, this energetic and joyful production will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble's Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton, who together directed Royal & Derngate's co-production of Education, Education, Education, which won The Stage Award for Best Ensemble and a Fringe First. Jesse's other credits for Royal & Derngate include early years Christmas show Second Star to the Right, whilst Helena's family production of The Star Seekers recently played at the National Theatre.

This enchanting family show is co-produced by Wizard Presents and ABA International Touring (UK) as part of Royal & Derngate's Made in Northampton season.

Pippi Longstocking takes to the Royal stage from Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 31 December 2019. For more information, call Royal & Derngate's Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk. Pippi Longstocking is presented by arrangement with IPR Ltd in cooperation with Nordiska ApS., Copenhagen.

Other forthcoming Made in Northampton productions include a new version of Ibsen's Ghosts by Mike Poulton directed by Lucy Bailey and starring Penny Downie, James Wilby and Declan Conlon, a co-production of Richard III starring Tom Mothersdale, the regional premiere of August Wilson's Two Trains Running, directed by Nancy Medina, winner of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, and a new romantic musical comedy by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, The Season. Royal & Derngate's Christmas 2018 co-production of Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch, adapted by Emma Reeves and directed by Theresa Heskins, is currently touring the UK.

Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.