Wood’s Tiger Comes to Tea at Vaudeville, 6 Jul

Based on the picture book written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, the 55-minute show tells the story of Sophie and her mum who are interrupted sitting down to tea by the big cat. Billed as being “packed with oodles of magic, sing a long songs and clumsy chaos”, The Tiger Who Came to Tea will play a nine-week run until 4 September.

Aimed at children aged three and above, The Tiger Who Came to Tea has been adapted for the stage by prolific children’s dramatist David Wood who also directs. One of the best-selling picture books of all time, it has sold over 4 million copies since being published in 1968 and has been translated into over 20 languages.

The cast for the production have been announced as Alan Atkins (Daddy), Abbey Norman (Sophie), Jenanne Redman (Mummy).

Writer of over 70 plays for children, David Wood‘s adaptations of Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mister Tom, Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine and Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep are currently on national tour. His other adaptations include Fantastic Mr Fox, The Gingerbread Man, BFG, The Witches, Meg and Mog, Spot and Babe the Sheep Pig.

His adult musical The Go-Between co-written with composer Richard Taylor and based on LP Hartley’s novel, opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse in September. Wood will also perform his own show, David Wood’s Story Time at the Arts Theatre for six performances this Easter.

The summer run at the Vaudeville marks the sixth West End family season produced by Kenny Wax and Nick Brook since 2005. Their previous productions include The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Prior to its West End dates, The Tiger Who Came to Tea will play a 24-date UK tour in venues including St Albans, Portsmouth, Southend, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Camberley, Burgess Hill, Halifax, Dartford, Leicester, Swindon, Bournemouth and Chatham.

The show has set and costume design by Susie Caulicutt, musical direction and arrangements by Peter Pozen, lighting design by Tony Simpson, illusions by Scott Penrose and choreography by Emma Clayton who is also assistant director.

Currently playing at the Vaudeville Theatre Neil LaBute‘s In A Forest, Dark and Deep starring Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams completes its limited season on 4 June 2011. It is followed into the theatre by The Flying Karamazov Brothers, whose return to the West End for the first time in 17 years was announced yesterday. The will play the Vaudeville from 20 June (previews from 20 June) to 10 September 2011.