Stick Man will leave the family tree this Autumn/Winter and return to the stage for festive seasons in London, Coventry and Leeds.Â
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, Freckle Productions’ smash-hit adaptation of Stick Man is back in the West End at Leicester Square Theatre for its 11th annual West End season from 22 October 2022 to 2 January 2023, with additional seasons at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry from 1 to 31 December and Leeds Playhouse from 7 to 31 December.
What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree in time for Christmas? This delightful adaptation from Freckle Productions, the team behind Zog and Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.
Stick Man is adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson, the multi award-winning author of some of the world’s best loved children’s books including The Gruffalo and Zog. Julia is best known for her popular rhyming stories for children, especially those illustrated by Axel Scheffler, which have sold over 75 million copies and have been published in over 100 languages.
Stick Man is a perennial bestseller and has been translated into 23 languages. In 2015, Magic Light Pictures premiered the animated film of Stick Man with an all-star cast including Martin Freeman, Jennifer Saunders and Hugh Bonneville. The film was the 4th most-viewed 2015 Christmas Day TV programme in the UK, and the book went to number one in the children’s chart. In 2018 Stick Man celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Stick Man is directed by Mark Kane with original direction by Sally Cookson (A Monster Calls, Old Vic Theatre), design by Katie Sykes (Jane Eyre, National Theatre), lighting by Elanor Higgins (Private Peaceful, UK Tour) music by Benji Bower (A Monster Calls, Old Vic Theatre) and musical direction by Brian Hargreaves.
The Leicester Square Theatre cast features Aaron Douglas and Alex Wingfield as Stick Man, Rishi Silvera and Maisie Armarh as Stick Lady Love and Lucas Taylor and Niall Morris as Actor-Musician. The Warwick Arts Centre cast features Adam Wadge as Stick Man, Rebecca Rayne as Stick Lady Love, Harry Gascoigne as Actor-Musician and Emily Newsome as Understudy. The Leeds Playhouse cast features Luke Byeford as Stick Man, Georgia Jackson as Stick Lady Love, Patrick Orkney as Actor-Musician and Rosie Malone as Understudy.
