Artistic Director Paul Hart and the team at Newbury’s The Watermill Theatre have announced casting for the third and final production of the 2021 outdoor summer season, a semi-staged concert of Stiles & Drewe’s family musical Just So, inspired by the stories of Rudyard Kipling, playing on the main lawn from Friday 30 July until Saturday 4 September.
At the ‘Time of the Very Beginnings’ the land is bustling with beasts, the sky is filled with birds and the ocean is teeming with fish. But there is one small problem: all the animals look the same!
The wise ‘Eldest Magician’ sends them out into the world to find their individuality. Everything is just so until Pau Amma the Crab starts playing with the ocean, causing terrible floods that put the other animals in danger. The brave Elephant’s Child embarks on a journey to challenge and overcome Pau Amma, but can she do it alone?
This wondrous family musical blends five of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So stories to tell a tale of courage, friendship and the power of an individual to make a difference.
The Just So company includes two 2021 graduates, both making their professional debuts at the Watermill: Laura Andresen Guimarães as ‘Zebra’ and Kemi Clarke as ‘Leopard’. The other company members are Alexander Bean as ‘Rhino’, Nathanael Campbell as ‘Eldest Magician’, Dan de Cruz as ‘Parsee Man / Jaguar / Show MD’, Eleanor Kane as ‘Elephant Child’, Emma Lucia as ‘Kolokolo Bird’, Pete Mooney as ‘Kangaroo / Cooking Stove’ and Emma Jane Morton as ‘Giraffe / Yellow Dingo Dog’.
Director Abigail Pickard Price said, “Welcoming audiences back to The Watermill this summer after such a time is a true delight and it is a particular treat to be able to invite the younger members of our community and families back to the theatre for JUST SO.”
Just So is directed by Abigail Pickard Price, set and costume Design by Katie Lias, choreography by Chi-San Howard, lighting design by Harry Armytage, sound design by Leigh Davies with Tarek Merchant as Musical Director.
