AD | Gifted
Michael Harrison is thrilled to announce the cast for Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which will make its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical this Summer on a major UK & Ireland Tour.
Enter a world of magic and fantasy with Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks. When the three orphaned Rawlins children are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all. Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks: The Magical Musical
With the original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny and new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life by award-winning theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.
The show, which opens at the Norwich Theatre Royal on Tuesday 28th September 2021, is the first-ever stage adaptation of the 1971 Disney favourite. Pilkington says the production is every bit as groundbreaking as the movie, with its famous blend of live-action, animation and musical numbers.
Set in the darkest days of the second world war, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is about the three Rawlins children who have been evacuated from London. Finding themselves in the fictional Dorset town of Pepperinge Eye, they are put in the care of the eccentric Miss Price who is less interested in looking after them than in completing her studies in magic.
Before they know it, she is casting spells on their bed and sending them skywards on a magical adventure.
As well as the original score, the show features Sherman brothers songs that were dropped from the film, plus new material by Neil Bartram who has worked closely with Brian Hill on the stage adaptation. With the additional songs, it has become a full-blown musical. “Substitutiary Locomotion is one of the best numbers I’ve ever sung,” says Dianne Pilkington. “I get so excited, I actually do believe I’m magic and casting a spell. When you’re in the middle of that on stage it’s fabulous.“
Bringing her up to speed on the art of magic is co-director Jamie Harrison. He is the man who created the stage illusions in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and once had to perform a magic trick for JK Rowling herself. He has also worked on Charlie on the Chocolate Factory in the West End and Pinocchio at the National Theatre, as well as all the shows for Vox Motus, the Glasgow company he runs with the other co-director, Candice Edmunds.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks Musical Cast
Dianne Pilkington will star as Miss Eglantine Price, the mysterious lady that the three orphaned Rawlins children are evacuated from wartime London to live with. Dianne’s West End credits include Les Miserables, Wicked, Mamma Mia and Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.
Charles Brunton will play Emelius Browne. Charles starred in the iconic role of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda both in the West End and on Broadway. Other credits include Love Never Dies, Chess and Scrooge.
The rest of the company includes Mark Anderson, Jessica Aubrey, Georgie Buckland, Kayla Carter, Jonathan Cobb, Jacqui Dubois, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Sam Lupton, Rob Madge, Vinnie Monachello, Nathaniel Morrison, Conor O’Hara, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Robin Simoes Da Silva, Emma Thornett and Susannah Van Den Berg.
The Rawlins children will be played by Dexter Barry, Izabella Bucknell, Haydn Court, Poppy Houghton, Evie Lightman and Aidan Oti.
How to book Bedknobs and Broomsticks: The Magical Musical tickets
The show opens for Norfolk audiences at Norwich Theatre Royal on Tuesday 28th September and runs until Sunday 3rd October 2021. Tickets are still available via norwichtheatre.org or 01603 630000.
Win Four Tickets to Bedknobs & Broomsticks: The Magical Musical – Norwich Theatre Royal
We are lucky enough to have four tickets to opening night at Norwich Theatre Royal to giveaway for your chance to see the Bedknobs and Broomsticks: The Magical Musical show for yourself.
To enter simply click the tweet below to follow both myself and Norwich Theatre Royal on Twitter and RT the tweet.
