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Tintin Transfers to Playhouse for Christmas, 6 Dec

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 15 May 2007), Rufus Norris’ acclaimed adaptation of Tintin will transfer to the West End for a limited Christmas engagement following an extensive regional tour. It will run at the Playhouse Theatre from 12 December 2007 (previews from 6 December) to 23 February 2008.

One of the big hits from the Young Vic’s Walkabout season during the two-year refurbishment of the theatre’s Southwark base (See News, May 2005), Tintin premiered at the Barbican Theatre in December 2005. It’s adapted for the stage by Norris and Scottish playwright David Greig. The title character, originated by The History Boys’ Russell Tovey, will now be taken by recent Guildhall graduate Matthew Parish.

Tintin, the boy reporter, began his first adventure in 1929 in the Belgian comic strip Le Petit Vingtieme. Created by illustrator Georges Remi, aka Hergé, Tintin became an icon with his trademark crested quiff, plus-four trousers and his faithful dog Snowy. Each year more than three million copies of Tintin’s adventures are sold across 50 countries in 40 different languages.

The stage play is based on Tintin in Tibet which Hergé described as “a song dedicated to friendship”. The story follows our Tintin’s quest to save his friend Chang, into the snow fields of the Himalayas where the legendary abominable snowman is rumoured to live. Tintin is joined on his journey by a host of characters including the irascible sea dog Captain Haddock.

The new 17-week tour opens on 28 July 2007 at Watford Palace and then continues to Oxford, Salford, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sunderland, Nottingham, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Richmond, Plymouth, Woking, Bradford and Cardiff, where it concludes on 24 November (See News, 23 May 2007).

Rufus Norris’ other recent award-winning credits include Festen and Cabaret. His new stage version of DBC Pierre’s Booker Prize-winning novel Vernon God Little has just finished an extended season at the Young Vic, where Norris is an associate director. Tintin is designed by Ian MacNeil, with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by Paul Arditti. It’s produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Mark Rubinstein, Michael Edwards and Carole Winter, Tulching/Bartner Productions and WTTP, in association with Watford Palace Theatre.

Currently at the Playhouse, Motown compilation musical Dancing in the Streets closes on 14 July (See News, 18 Jun 2007). No interim productions have been announced for the theatre.

- by Terri Paddock

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