Theatre News

Exclusive: New production of Babe, the Sheep Pig to tour the UK

The play will be em-baa-king on tour next year

A new stage production of Dick King-Smith's much loved children's novel, Babe, the Sheep Pig will run at the Polka Theatre for Christmas before launching a UK tour at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in February 2017.

Based on the novel which inspired the Oscar-winning 1995 film, Babe was originally adapted for the stage by David Wood (Goodnight Mister Tom, The Go-Between), and ran at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2006.

The new production, directed by Michael Fentiman (Titus Andronicus, RSC), features an original score, a 'baa-ber sheep' quartet, and puppetry from the people behind War Horse and Cirque du Soleil.

The cast of actor-musicians features Emma Barclay (You Me Bum Bum Train), Nicola Blackman (Little Shop of Horrors), Oliver Grant (War Horse) and Ben Ingles (Romeo and Juliet, RSC).

They are joined by Claire Greenway (Sister Act), Jacqui Sanchez (Avenue Q), Lucy Thomas (Bugsy Malone) and Sam Wilmott (Wicked).

Babe, the Sheep Pig will run at the Polka Theatre from 25 November 2016 to 5 February 2017 and then tour to Leeds, Keswick, Eastbourne, Margate, Truro, High Wycombe, Worthing, Bournemouth, Salford, Norwich, Exeter, Swindon, Llandudno, Skegness, Dartford, Southampton, Newcastle, Bromley, Blackpool, Aberdeen, St Albans, Swansea, Southend, Bury St Edmunds, Crawley, Watford, Plymouth and Edinburgh. Further dates and venues to be announced.