Polka Theatre Press Release
Polka?s 25th Birthday season continues with a record-breaking Roald Dahl classic. At Christmas, Polka Theatre provides the perfect alternative to pantomimes, and this year is no exception. Continuing its 25th birthday season, Polka Theatre presents the much-loved Roald Dahl classic, James and the Giant Peach, adapted for the stage by David Wood OBE, recently described by The Times as ?the national children?s dramatist?. The show is the first time Polka has staged a Dahl story at Christmas, and James and the Giant Peach is currently breaking Box Office records. The story follows a young James Trotter who finds himself stuck living with his ghastly aunts ? Sponge and Spiker ? after his parents were gruesomely run down by a rhinoceros on Oxford Street! On receiving a gift from a mysterious man, however, James discovers a magical escape route when a single peach on the old, dead tree begins to grow to enormous proportions. So begins the trip of a lifetime, for both James and the young audience. Along the way, you?ll meet James? newfound insect chums, like Centipede, Earthworm and Ladybird, to name but a few. The show features brand new music, some technical wizardry, audience participation and plenty of laughs as Dahl?s wicked sense of humour is brought to life on stage. Directing the production is Polka?s Associate Director, Roman Stefanski, whose last Christmas show for Polka was the enchanting Cinderella in 2002. He is joined by designer Keith Baker (Young Europe, Boy, Just So) and composer Olly Fox, who also composed music for last year?s hit show, Stuart Little. As well as being one of the UK?s foremost producers of theatre for children, Polka Theatre is Britain?s first and only theatre venue dedicated to and purpose-built for young audiences. This Autumn, it celebrates 25 years of its unique building, where over 2 million of children have been introduced to the world of theatre. James and the Giant Peach is sponsored by City-based Tullett Liberty plc, one of the world?s largest firms of inter-dealer brokers. It marks the company?s nineteenth sponsorship of a Polka Theatre production.
For review tickets and all press enquiries, please contact
Rasheed Rahman on 020 8545 8328
or e-mail rasheed@polkatheatre.com
Laura Benson on 020 8545 8320 x348
or email laura@polkatheatre.com
