Goodnight Mister Tom is all set to return to the West End for ten weeks, starting in December. Following a hugely successful West End season in 2012/13, the critically acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s classic novel will play this Christmas at the Duke of York’s Theatre, previewing from December 11th.
Now a modern classic, Michelle Magorian’s wonderfully uplifting tale is brought gloriously to life in this magical stage adaptation by David Wood. Set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable and heart-warming friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley, played by David Troughton. All is perfect until William is suddenly summoned by his mother back to London.
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and commended for the Carnegie Medal, Goodnight Mister Tom is now a world-wide literary favourite and BAFTA award-winning TV film (starring John Thaw), and continues to inspire audiences and bring generations together.
David Troughton has performed numerous times with both the RSC (The Shoemaker’s Holiday, Macbeth, Macbett, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Richard II and Richard III, The Cherry Orchard, The Tempest, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Venetian Twins) and the National Theatre (Season’s Greetings, Playing with Fire, Measure for Measure, Peter Pan and Fool For Love). He is also a regular on TV where his appearances include Grantchester, Unforgotten, The Hollow Crown and many more.
Author Michelle Magorian was inspired to write Goodnight Mister Tom after hearing her mother’s tales about her time as a nurse in the war. Published in 1981, it has been translated into 11 languages and won awards in the UK, America and Australia. Her latest novel Just Henry won the Costa Award for children’s fiction in 2008 and in 2011 was adapted into a TV film starring Sheila Hancock.
Goodnight Mister Tom is adapted for the stage by David Wood OBE, the country’s leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children. David’s other productions include his Olivier nominated production of The Tiger Who Came For Tea, James and the Giant Peach, Tom’s Midnight Garden and George’s Marvellous Medicine.
The production is directed by Angus Jackson, whose work includes Oppenheimer for the RSC Swan and Vaudeville Theatre, King Lear for Chichester and The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Browning Version for Chichester and The Harold Pinter Theatre, Bingo for The Young Vic and Chichester, The Power Of Yes for the National Theatre Lyttleton, and Elmina’s Kitchen for the National’s Cottesloe Theatre and The Garrick Theatre. Forthcoming work includes Don Quixote in a new version by James Fenton for the RSC’s 400th anniversary season, starring David Threlfall and Rufus Hound.
