HONK! The Ugly Ducking Musical Runs December 1-January 3, 2010

Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical, By Josef Weinberger. With music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe Tuesday 1 December 2009 to Sunday 3 January 2010

This Christmas Royal & Derngate presents a festive show with a twist, Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and from the song writers of Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Honk! is a fantastic family show for all ages. It hatches onto the Royal stage from 1 December to 3 January.

Prepare to be taken on a hilarious musical journey following the adventures of Ugly, a duckling born different from the rest. Shunned and taunted by his siblings he is lured away from home by the ever-hungry Cat. Managing to escape, Ugly embarks on a brave mission to find his way home to his devoted mother, meeting many colourful characters along the way, who help him to discover more about himself than he could have ever imagined.

Directed by Andrew Panton, this brilliantly funny story is awash with puns, and boasts an uplifting musical score and larger than life characters. A great family alternative to the pantomime, the story is a timeless tale that will be enjoyed by people of all walks of life, from ducklings to swans, with a heartening theme of the acceptance of others.

Andrew Panton returns to Northampton to direct Honk! following his success at Royal & Derngate as Associate Director of Follies in 2006. The cast of Honk! includes Fiona Dunn, who has starred in severAl West End musicals including Sunday in the Park with George, Oliver and the Sound of Music and most recently Trevor Nunn's A Little Night Music, Andrew Dennis whose TV credits include Doctors, The Bill and Mothers and Daughters, and Marilyn Cutts - from the original cast of Honk! - most recently seen in Never Forget, the hit musical of Take That. Talented newcomer Adam Barlow takes the leading role of Ugly, the young duck who learns he is somehow different from his siblings. Local Northampton children will play the parts of the ducklings and froglets.

For a spectacular Christmas treat for all the family Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical can be seen at Royal & Derngate from Tuesday 1 December to Sunday 3 January. Tickets cost from £9 to £21 with concessions and group discounts available. You can book now by calling the Box Office on 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

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