Gwen Taylor stars in autumn tour of Morpurgo’s Butterfly Lion

Starring Gwen Taylor, the production will open at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester on 30 August, before visiting Cheltenham, Llandudno, Cambridge, Eastbourne, Malvern, Nottingham, Glasgow, Richmond and Brighton.

According to press material, the show “transports audiences from the African veld to the battlefields of First World War France, as they follow the adventures of Bertie and the White Lion as they strive to find sanctuary amongst devastating adversity.”

Gwen Taylor is best known for her role as Amy in 80s TV comedy Duty Free, and for playing the title role in the ITV sitcom Barbara. Most recently she has been seen playing Ann Foster in Coronation Street. Her theatre credits include: Driving Miss Daisy, Calendar Girls, Prick up Your Ears and Shirley Valentine.

Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo’s many other novels include War Horse, which was adapted into a hit stage production by the National Theatre in 2007. The show subsequently transferred to the West End and Broadway and still plays to audiences all over the world.

The Butterfly Lion is adapted and directed Colchester Mercury artistic director by Daniel Buckroyd, who previously adapted Morpurgo’s novel Farm Boy. It’s produced by Bill Kenwright.

See also: our interview with Michael Morpurgo