Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce casting for 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, co-adapted by Michael Morpurgo and Globe Artistic Director Emma Rice. After a critically acclaimed 2015 run at Kneehigh’s Asylum,Emma Rice’s family show will be brought to London for the first time, before embarking on a major international tour of the UK and US. It tells the story of the rehearsed D-Day landings in Devon’s Slapton Sands, and stars Katy Owen as the heroine Lily, Mike Shepherd as her grandfather, Adam Sopp as the evacuee Barry, and Nandi Bhebhe and Ncuti Gatwa as American soldiers Harry and Adi.
Katy Owen reprises the role of Lily, having also recently starred in Kneehigh’s Rebecca, and as Puck in the Globe’s 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre includes The World of Work (Difficult Stage), Apparitions of Spirits with the Forsythe Sisters (Gaggle Babble), Maudie’s Rooms and Plum and Cinders (Sherman Cymru). Her film work includes Daddy’s Girl and Shopping for Happiness.
Artistic Director of Kneehigh Mike Shepherd will play Lily’s grandpa. Since founding the company in 1980, he has worked almost exclusively with them as both an actor and director, with recent shows including Tristan and Yseult, Steptoe and Son, Midnight’s Pumpkin, The Red Shoes, The Bacchae, Cymbeline, The Wooden Frock, A Matter of Life and Death and Don John. As director, most recent credits include Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs), A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (puppet version with Little Angel Theatre) and an upcoming tour of The Tin Drum. His film credits include Anna Karenina and Pan.
Adam Sopp with take the role of Barry. Adam made his professional debut in Oliver! at the Palladium, after which he took the role of Gavroche in Les Misérables (Palace Theatre). Other recent theatre includes Sunny Afternoon(Hampstead Theatre), The El Train (Hoxton Hall) and Backbeat (West End). He appeared in four series of the BBC’s Grange Hill, and voiced the titular protagonist in four of the Harry Potter video games.
Nandi Bhebhe will reprise her role as Harry. Nandi is currently playing First Fairy/Starveling in the Globe’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre includes 5,6,7,8 (Royal Court), Episodes of Blackness (Vocab Dance Company), Fela! (National Theatre/ Broadway/ US Tour), A Season in the Congo (Young Vic) and White Out (Barrowland Ballet Dance Company).
The role of Adi will be played by Ncuti Gatwa. Ncuti is currently starring as Demetrius in the Globe’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His other recent theatre credits include Victoria, Hecuba, The BFG, And Then There Were None, Cars + Boys and A Woman in Mind (Dundee Rep), Romeo and Juliet (Home Theatre, Manchester), Shakespeare in Love (West End) and Lines (Yard Theatre).
Michael Morpurgo, author of The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips and co-adaptor of 946, is one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, having published over 130 books. His multiple accolades include the Whitbread Children’s Book Award, Carnegie Medal and the Red House Children’s Book Award. In 2003 he was appointed Children’s Laureate.
The full cast comprises of Nandi Bhebhe, Adebayo Bolaji, Emma Darlow, Ncuti Gatwa, Kyla Goodey, Chris Jared, Katy Owen, Mike Shepherd, Adam Sopp and Ewan Wardrop. The character of Blues Man will be played by Akpore Uzoh on tour, replacing Adebayo Bolaji after the London run.
946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips will tour in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, opening to press at Shakespeare’s Globe before travelling to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Warwick and Bristol and then on to venues in the US including Berkeley Repertory theatre and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the performing Arts, Los Angeles.
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