Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories continue to be extremely popular with youngsters. She’s sold more than five million copies and they've been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC. There are now eight Worst Witch titles.
They’re also the basis for a critically acclaimed stage show that you can catch with your young friends at the Vaudeville Theatre until 8 September 2019.
As the press release puts it “Budding young witches and wizards have less than 3 weeks left to catch this hit production before it flies off into the night… following a hugely successful nationwide tour and run at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton”.
They remind us “The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future. Featuring Jill Murphy’s much-loved characters, the production includes original songs, music, magic and a dose of Mildred’s unique brand of utter pandemonium!”
The all-female cast at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches are: Rosie Abraham (Ethel), Danielle Bird (Mildred), Molly-Grace Cutler (Miss Bat), Meg Forgan (Fenella), Rachel Heaton(Miss Hardbroom), Rebecca Killick (Maud), Emma Lau (Drusilla), Megan Leigh Mason (Miss Drill), Polly Lister (Agatha/Miss Cackle), Lauryn Redding (Griselda) and Consuela Rolle(Enid).
Jill Murphy’s stats as a children’s writer are impressive. She was commended for the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for Peace At Last. Five Minute’s Peace, the first in her series about the Large Family (of elephants), won the 1987 Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 1986 Children’s Book Award. From the same series, All In One Piece was highly commended for the 1987 Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the 1987 Children’s Book Award, and A Quiet Night In was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1994. The Last Noo-Noo won the 0-5 category of the 1995 Smarties Book Prize and in the same year was shortlisted for the English 4-11 Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year, going on to win the 1996 Sheffield Children’s Book Award.
This dramatisation of her most popular work got ★★★★ reviews in Daily Telegraph, Time Out, Mail On Sunday, WhatsOnStage, Daily Express, The Week, The Stage, The Observer. So it comes highly recommended.
‘Young theatregoers can – finally – believe in magic’ The Times
‘A cauldron of delights perfect for a family summer show’ WhatsOnStage
‘Enchanting’ Mail On Sunday
‘Delightfully boisterous production… splendid’ Daily Telegraph
‘Magical mischief and crowd pleasing mayhem’ WhatsOnStage
‘A riot from start to finish… pure magic’ Sunday Mirror
Director Theresa Heskins’ past productions include The Snow Queen, which won the 2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. Her wonderfully inventive and hugely popular production of Around the World in 80 Days was nominated for the same award, in both 2015 and 2017.
So you can book with confidence knowing you’re in for an enchanting few hours of family fun.
Over the next few weekends you can catch my production of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations in the beautiful outdoor setting of the Geffrye Museum's front lawn, next to Hoxton Station - and it's completely FREE!!! No need to book, just show up!