Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director James Dacre has confirmed two world premieres for the venue’s Christmas line up this year, augmenting its Made in Northampton season. The Royal’s Christmas Show for 2017 will be a vivid new version of The Jungle Book by acclaimed playwright Jessica Swale, directed by Max Webster, with dramaturgy by Indhu Rubasingham. A world premiere adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid will also play in the venue’s Underground Studio with original music by Barb Jungr and puppetry from Little Angel Theatre.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling’s birth, The Jungle Book is a co-production with Children’s Touring Partnership. This vibrant new musical adaptation of Kipling’s Nobel Prize-winning family classic will take to Northampton’s Royal stage from Tuesday 28 November to Sunday 31 December 2017, with a national press night on Friday 1 December. This world premiere production will then embark on a major national tour.

Jessica Swale’s first play, Blue Stockings, premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe, earning her a nomination for Most Promising Playwright in the Evening Standard Awards 2013. Her acclaimed next play Nell Gwynn transferred to the West End and won the Olivier for Best New Comedy in 2016.

An Associate Director at the Old Vic, Max Webster directed their production of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, which was nominated for Best Entertainment and Family Show at the 2016 Olivier Awards. Max returns to Royal & Derngate after directing King Lear there last year.

This well-loved tale sees Mowgli the man cub battle for survival in a heart-warming coming of age story about a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. With the help of friends like Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, Mowgli outwits the tiger Shere Khan and learns the law of the jungle.

Dacre commented: "Featuring all its memorable characters and enduring mythology, Jessica’s anniversary adaptation promises to be a thrilling, humorous and touching re-imagining of Kipling’s timeless story."

Furthering their commitment to making work in their Underground Studio to introduce young audiences to theatre, Royal & Derngate will also be staging another world premiere for Christmas 2017, with an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid, in a co-production with Little Angel Theatre.

The production will feature puppetry designed by Lyndie Wright of Little Angel Theatre, and is directed by Samantha Lane, with original songs by Barb Jungr. Aimed at under 7s and their families, the show will run from Saturday 2 December 2017 to Saturday 13 January 2018.

These two festive shows take the previously announced Made in Northampton season up to a total twelve productions for the year ahead. The Made in Northampton season gets underway in April with Death of a Salesman, starring Tim Pigott-Smith. The season also includes a co-production of The Grapes of Wrath, the European premiere of An Iliad, site-specific production The Twelfth Player, a touring revival of Rules for Living, a new production of The Caretaker, and a co-commission for Royal & Derngate’s Young Company, The Blue Road.

For more information about the season or to book tickets, call Royal & Derngate’s Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

Made in Northampton is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.

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ROYAL & DERNGATE’S MADE IN NORTHAMPTON SEASON – AT A GLANCE

Venue: Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
(except for The Twelfth Player)

Death of a Salesman
Saturday 8 to Saturday 29 April 2017
The Grapes of Wrath
Tuesday 9 to Saturday 20 May 2017

The Twelfth Player
At Sixfields Stadium, Northampton NN5 5QA
Previews 17, 19, 22 and 24 May 2017
Thursday 22 June to Wednesday 12 July 2017

An Iliad
Friday 16 June to Saturday 8 July 2017

The Blue Road
Friday 21 to Saturday 22 July 2017

Rules for Living
Friday 8 to Saturday 30 September 2017

Education, Education, Education
Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 October 2017

The Caretaker
Tuesday 17 October until Saturday 28 October

The Jungle Book
Tuesday 28 November to Sunday 31 December 2017

The Singing Mermaid
Saturday 2 December 2017 to Saturday 13 January 2018

A Passage to India
Thursday 11 to Saturday 20 January 2018

Love From A Stranger
Friday 23 February to Saturday 16 March 2018

Box office: 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk

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