Chitty Chitty Bang Bang hits the road again

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is being revived at West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds later this year ahead of a UK and Ireland tour.

The show, which has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman (Mary Poppins), is adapted from the iconic 1968 film by Jeremy Sams. It was first seen in the West End in 2002.

The new production is directed by WYP artistic director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear and production design by Simon Higlett.

Brining said, "Directing such an iconic show is a great opportunity, a thrilling challenge for any director. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a brilliant adventure story, filled with classic songs and scenes that hold so many memories for so many people."

The score includes "Truly Scrumptious", "Toot Sweets", "Hushabye Mountain" and the Oscar-nominated title song.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse on 10 December (previews from 2 December) for a nine-week season finishing on 30 January 2016.

The tour will then open at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 10 February 2016 for a two-week run. Further dates and casting are still to be announced.

It's produced by West Yorkshire Playhouse and the touring consortium Music & Lyrics Limited, which includes venues such as the Birmingham Hippodrome, Wales Millennium Centre and Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

Music & Lyrics's John Stalker said: "Music & Lyrics is honoured to be bringing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang back to the stage and into the lives of hundreds of thousands of theatregoers. Our new production will delight and enthral lovers of the fantasmagorical film and introduce Chitty to brand new audiences."