”I Believe in Unicorns” to run in the West End this summer

Award-winning storyteller Danyah Miller’s I Believe in Unicorns, based on the beloved book by Michael Morpurgo, will open at the Apollo Theatre for a six-week summer season.

Running from 27 July to 2 September, this new production of the show marks its 10th anniversary, having been seen by over 80,000 people with performances at every scale, including two previous runs in the West End. It also won an Argus Angel Award for Artistic Excellence at the Brighton Festival.

Miller will also celebrate The Reading Agency’s (a national charity that helps support those in the UK through the power of reading) 21st birthday with a unique Gala Performance on Sunday 9 July at the Lyric Theatre, and feature a special post-show talk with Morpurgo himself.

All profits from the one-off family event will be donated to The Reading Agency. The gala is set to include a special book swap for young audience members, as well as a raffle with prizes including tickets to Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands and the Old Vic’s press night of A Christmas Carol, as well as a Fortnum and Mason’s hamper.

The show, adapted for the stage by Miller and Dani Parr, follows the story of Tomas, an eight-year-old boy who hates reading and school. His world is turned upside down when he meets the Unicorn Lady in his local library, and embarks on a spellbinding journey that celebrates the power of books and the bravery of the human spirit.

“I’m passionate about sharing stories with families because I’ve seen first-hand the positive effect stories have in our lives,” said Miller. “We look forward to a new generation of children discovering this story for the first time.”

Morpurgo himself had nothing but praise for Miller, saying, “Danyah is one of the great storytellers in this country – she brings stories to life in the most enchanting way. See her in full flow on stage, and you never look away. She invites her audience to join her in the story, and seven years of age or seventy, we go with her.”

Tickets for the Gala Performance range from £45 to £60, with premium options including a pre-show reception and goodie package, as well as a bag of goodies per family that includes a complimentary programme and a hand-crafted The Secret Garden ‘Story-in-a-Box’ home experience.

The show is designed by Kate Bunce with lighting by Will Evans; sound by Martin Thompson and projection by Arnim Friess.