Theatre News

Jane Asher Tours in Penelope Lively's Moon Tiger

Penelope Lively’s novel is adapted for the stage starring Jane Asher

Jane Asher
Jane Asher

Jane Asher has returned to the stage in Moon Tiger presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, adapted by Simon Reade and directed by Stephen Unwin. The play is currently on tour and future stops include Salford, Kingston and Aberdeen.

Described as compelling, moving and eloquent, Moon Tiger is a story of loss and desire. It centres on the life of Claudia Hampton, a popular historian and a strong, beautiful and difficult woman. Now in her seventies, she is plotting her greatest work – a history of the world.

She looks back over her life growing up between the wars and remembers the people who have shared its triumphs and tragedies. There is Gordon, her adored brother; Jasper, the charming, untrustworthy lover and father of her daughter, and Tom, her one great love, both found and lost during the El Alamein campaign when she worked as a war correspondent. Against a background of world events, Claudia’s own remarkable story provokes a sharp combination of sadness, shock and amusement.

Jane Asher is one of the UK’s most accomplished actresses. Her recent theatre credits include Pride and Prejudice at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Charley’s Aunt, The Importance of Being Earnest and Festen. Recent television includes Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge, Holby City and The Old Guys and she recently starred in the 2013 film I Give it a Year.

The play also stars Simon Reade. He starred in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight's Children, Ted Hughes's Tales from Ovid for the RSC and Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful which enjoyed a very successful run at The Lowry in 2009.

Stephen Unwin directs and is the former Artistic Director of The Rose Theatre, Kingston and founder of English Touring Theatre, whose extensive credits include acclaimed productions The Vortex and Hay Fever in the West End and most recently Ibesen’s Ghosts.

Dame Penelope Lively is a prolific, popular and critically-acclaimed author of fiction for both children and adults.

Moon Tiger is currently on tour and stops at Cambridge w/c 10 February; Salford w/c 17 February; Kingston w/c 24 February and Aberdeen w/c 3 March.