Theatre News

Royal Court to stage 'mischevious' adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Twits

Enda Walsh’s new version of Dahl’s dark tale will premiere in April 2015

| London | Off-West End |

27 June 2014

Roald Dahl, currently represented in the West End by hit productions of Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is about to have a third major adaptation of his work put on the London stage.

As part of this morning's new season announcement, the Royal Court confirmed it will stage a production of Dahl's The Twits next year.

Adapted by Enda Walsh (The Walworth Farce, Disco Pigs) and directed by John Tiffany (Let the Right One In), the production will run in the Theatre Downstairs from 14 April to 31 May 2015 (previews from 7 April).

First published in 1980, The Twits, which was inspired by Dahl's deep mistrust of beards, centres on Mr and Mrs Twit, who are horrible to each other and even nastier to everyone else.

The couple play endless practical jokes on each other and hold a family of monkeys known as the 'Muggle-Wumps' hostage and force them to stand on their heads. Can the Muggle-Wumps find a way to escape their tormentors?

“The Twits is the most revolutionary story of all Dahl’s work”

Royal Court artistic director Vicky Featherstone said today: "The Twits is a mischievous new adaptation by Enda Walsh, and by mischievous I mean very mischievous.

"It is definitely going to be for children but also very thrilling for the adults. The Twits is the most revolutionary story of all Dahl's work. So we are delighted to be handing that revolution back to the children."

The Twits will be accompanied by a full programme of free writing workshops for children and their families designed by Walsh and Tiffany, as well as free in-school workshops for all schools and other activities.

If the production proves a success, a West End transfer is highly likely.