Theatre News

Michael Morpurgo's Running Wild to tour UK

The adaptation of the ”War Horse” author’s novel will open in Chichester

Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

An adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Running Wild is set to tour the UK next year.

The novel tells the story of Lily who takes an elephant ride whilst on holiday in Indonesia. During the ride, the elephant becomes anxious and runs into the jungle moments before a tsunami hits the island.

Morpurgo, best know for the stage adaptation of his novel War Horse, was inspired by the real life story of Amber Owen, who was saved by an elephant in Phuket when a tsunami hit the island in 2004.

The adaptation, by Samuel Adamson, got its London premiere at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this year and will start the tour in Chichester. It will then go to Coventry, Sheffield, Wycombe, Hackney, Blackpool, Leeds, Salford, Norwich, Newcastle, Plymouth, Northampton and Wolverhampton.

Running Wild is directed by Dale Rooks and Timothy Sheader with set and costume design by Paul Wills, puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, composition by Rod Paton, additional music by Nick Powell and Louise Anna Duggan and lighting design by Paul Anderson.

Click here to read our review of the production

Running Wild opens at Chichester Festival Theatre on 10 February 2017 before touring the UK.