About This Show

‘Let’s have all the skeletons out of the closet, today, of all days!’

It’s 23 April, Shakespeare’s birthday.

In Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance – twin chorus girls born and bred south of the river – are celebrating their 70th birthday. Over the river in Chelsea, their father and greatest actor of his generation Melchior Hazard turns 100 on the same day. As does his twin brother Peregrine. If, in fact, he’s still alive. And if, in truth, Melchior is their real father after all

A big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and heartbreak, Wise Children is a celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope. Expect showgirls and Shakespeare, sex and scandal, music, mischief and mistaken identity – and butterflies by the thousand.

Emma Rice (Romantics Anonymous, Tristan & Yseult, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk and Brief Encounter) brings her unique, exuberantly impish vision to Angela Carter’s great last novel, Wise Children, launching her new theatre company of the same name and its London residency at The Old Vic.

An Old Vic and Wise Children production.

Co-produced by the Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Oxford Playhouse and York Theatre Royal.

Show Details

Dates: Opening Night: 08 October 2018 Final Performance: 10 November 2018

Cast

Sam Archer Young Peregrine
Ankur Bahl Young Melchior
Stu Barker The Band
Omari Douglas Showgirl Nora
Alex Heane The Band
Paul Hunter Melchior
Melissa James Showgirl Dora
Bettrys Jones Young Dora
Patrycja Kujawska Lady Atalanta/Wheelchair
Katy Owen Grandma Chance
Ian Ross Band Leader
Mike Shepherd Peregrine

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