Cast for ”I, Daniel Blake” stage adaptation confirmed

Northern Stage has announced the cast and creative team for the first stage adaptation of Ken Loach and Paul Laverty’s I, Daniel Blake.

Written by actor and comedian Dave Johns, who played the title role in the award-winning film, the production will premiere at Northern Stage before touring. The story is about a middle-aged carpenter, Daniel Blake, and his struggle with the welfare system after a heart attack leaves him unable to work.

The cast will be led by David Nellist as Daniel, with Bryony Corrigan as Katie, and Kema Sikazwe as China. The rest of the company includes Janine Leigh, Micky Cochrane, and Jodie Wild. Johns has updated the story for 2023, making it contemporary, exploring more of single mum Katie’s journey and the family unit she forms with Daniel.

Mark Calvert will direct the stage adaptation, which features factual interviews, speeches, and social media posts showing the impact of government decisions on people’s lives.

The play is designed by Rhys Jarman, with lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, original music by Ross Millard, movement direction by Martin Hylton, and AV design by Matthew Brown for PixelLux. Creative captioning will be included at all performances.

The show is set to premiere at Northern Stage from 25 May to 10 June, with a press night on 31 May. It will then tour to Birmingham Rep (13 to 25 June), HOME Manchester (27 June to 1 July), and Exeter Northcott Theatre (5 to 8 July).

Full tour dates (including stops at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Leeds Playhouse and the Belgrade Theatre Coventry) will be announced in due course.

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