Leicester’s Curve has revealed the cast of talented local performers joining the theatre’s upcoming festive show for children and families, The Owl Who Came For Christmas.
The heart-warming world premiere stage production is based on the picture book by John Hay with illustrations by Garry Parsons, and published by Macmillan Children’s Books. The show will run in Curve’s Studio Theatre from Saturday 2 to Sunday 31 December.
Selected following open auditions and all hailing from the East Midlands, cast members Mary Bonam, Camille Burnett, Oliver Stanley and Annabelle Terry will bring this festive tale to life with music and puppetry.
Mary Bonam recently appeared in the line-up of Curve on the Square, the theatre’s free weekend of live entertainment for all. A familiar face at Curve, Bonam regularly delivers workshops as part of CQ Earlies sessions – free interactive family workshops across Leicester’s Cultural Quarter – her previous credits also include Curve Community productions of Annie, Rent and Sweeney Todd.
Camille Burnett’s credits include Medea at Midlands Art Centre and Trapped Between Stories: R&D at the Nottingham Playhouse, as well as Last Train to Christmas (Sky Cinema).
Making his Curve debut, Leicester actor Oliver Stanley’s previous credits include the UK tour of Sleeping Beauty and A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum theatre.
Completing the company is Leicester’s Annabelle Terry, whose previous credits include Hamlet at the National Theatre and Dick Whittington at the Nottingham Playhouse.
The Owl Who Came For Christmas will be co-produced by Curve with Norwell Lapley Productions (NLP) and will be adapted for the stage by writer, performer and Curve Creative Programmes Practitioner Chandni Mistry (Ruka: Finding Home: Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story at 50; Roti Moon). The production will be directed by Curve’s Artist Development and New Work Producer, Cara Nolan (Road), with new music composed by Curve Resident Creative Jude Taylor and set, costume and puppetry designed by Abby Clarke. Curve Resident Creative Stacey McCarthy will choreograph the show, with lighting and sound design by respective Curve technical team members Jonathan Payne and Angel Rossell de Pablos. Casting is by Curve Associate Kay Magson CDG.
Ideal for young children aged three and above, all performances of The Owl Who Came For Christmas from Saturday 9 December will be adapted as Relaxed Performances, offering a more relaxed environment to provide as many children and families the chance to enjoy the production.
Inspired by a true story of the real Rosie the Owl who lost her way, see how a loving family help save Rosie, the tiny owl who really did come for Christmas, and return her to her forest home.
The family carried the tree to their car and tied it to the roof.
Rosie felt the car moving and heard the sounds of the city.
“Where am I?” wondered Rosie. “This is not my forest.”
When a family are putting up their new Christmas tree, hidden amongst the decorations is a secret visitor, snuggled in the branches.
‘Mum, look! . . . There’s a bauble moving in the tree!’
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “We are thrilled director Cara Nolan and casting director Kay Magson have assembled a fantastic cast to bring this beautiful and joyous story to life. What makes this company of actors even more special is they’re all from Leicester and the East Midlands, and represent the very best in local talent. We look forward to welcoming the entire cast and company, our wonderful audiences and of course, Rosie the Owl, to Curve this Christmas.”
The Owl Who Came For Christmas will run alongside the Made at Curve production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita. Directed by Nikolai Foster, the musical will play in Curve’s Theatre from Monday 27 November to Saturday 13 January.
Inspired by a true story and first published by Macmillan Children’s Books in 2022, the Made at Curve production of The Owl Who Came For Christmas will be suitable for children aged 3+.
Tickets for The Owl Who Came For Christmas at Curve are on sale now. To find out more, visit www.curveonline.co.uk, call 0116 242 3595 or visit Curve’s Box Office in-person.
