The British Theatre Academy To Stage Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr in Summer Season at Southwark Playhouse

The British Theatre Academy is to produce Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. as part of its second annual summer season takeover at Southwark Playhouse.

A magical mix of heartwarming fairytale and action-packed adventure, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. with Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Book by David Stern, will run from Friday 26 July – Wednesday 14 August.

In Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr, the classic tale of toymaker Geppetto’s little wooden puppet is given new life. This new musical, which retells the classic Disney story from Geppetto’s perspective, features the beloved classic songs When You Wish Upon a Star and I’ve Got No Strings, (Music by Leigh Harline, Lyrics by Ned Washington from the Walt Disney motion picture Pinocchio) alongside a host of new songs by Oscar and Grammy Award-winner and master melodist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), tackling timely issues about what it means to be “the perfect child” – and what it means to be “a real father.”

Join the Blue Fairy, Stromboli and a lively cast of characters as Geppetto journeys beyond the toy shop to discover the meaning of family. When the Blue Fairy grants Geppetto’s wish to bring his beloved puppet to life, the new father quickly learns that being a parent is full of challenges. He struggles to make his son “the perfect boy” only to lose him to a gang of Roustabouts. When faced the thought of never seeing Pinocchio again, Geppetto truly learns the meaning of family, and being a father.

Directed by Séimí Campbell. Choreography by Holly Hughes. Set/Costume Design Gregor Donnelly. Lighting Designer Andrew Exeter. Sound Designer Andrew Johnson.

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Stephen Schwartz said: “I always think it’s important for people who are interested to be in theatre to get off to an early start. That kind of early training gets into your bones. I also think it’s especially fun for The BTA to work on something brand new like Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr as the performers aren’t imitating other performers from before, but finding the creativity within themselves.”

Also in the 2019 BTA season is a youth production of the multi award-winning Broadway hit, Once On This Island, from the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Anstasia, Seussical, Ragtime), and a  youth production of Dogfight by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, The Greatest Showman) and Peter Duchan, directed and choreographed by Dean Johnson.