Wise Children UK tour and Old Vic casting announced

Casting has been announced for Emma Rice's Wise Children which opens at the Old Vic in October.

The cast includes Sam Archer (Young Peregrine), Ankur Bahl (Young Melchior), Stu Barker (The Band), Omari Douglas (Showgirl Nora), Mirabelle Gremaud (Young Nora), Alex Heane (The Band), Paul Hunter (Melchior), Melissa James (Showgirl Dora), Bettrys Jones (Young Dora), Patrycja Kujawska (Lady Atalanta/Wheelchair), Etta Murfitt (Nora, also choreographer), Katy Owen (Grandma Chance), Ian Ross (Band Leader, also composer and musical director), Gareth Snook (Dora) and Mike Shepherd (Peregrine).

The piece is Rice's adaptation of Angela Carter's classic novel and marks the first show created by her new company, also called Wise Children. The piece follows two twins celebrating their 70th birthday in Brixton and their father Melchior Hazard and his twin brother Peregrine who turn 100 on the same day.

Rice's previous works include Romantics Anonymous, Tristan and Yseult and The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk. She founded Wise Children after announcing she was stepping down from being artistic director at Shakespeare's Globe in 2016.

Rice adapts and directs the piece, which also has designs from Vicki Mortimer, puppetry from Lyndie Wright, lighting from Malcolm Rippeth and sound and video from Simon Baker.