A Big Friendly Christmas at The Dukes
The Dukes in Lancaster is thinking big this Christmas as it celebrates 40 years of entertaining families.
One of Roald Dahl’s most popular characters – The BFG – will be striding on to The Dukes stage from Friday November 25 2011 to Saturday January 7 2012.
The story of The BFG itself reaches a milestone in 2012, the 30th anniversary of its publication. It was inspired by Dahl’s granddaughter Sophie who went on to become a world famous model and TV presenter.
In a faithful adaptation of this most scrumdiddlyumptious story, The Dukes will tell this heartwarming tale of friendship and bravery with a cast of new and familiar actors to the Lancaster theatre alongside amazing puppetry. Masses of fun and plenty of surprises are promised along the way.
Directing his second Christmas production for The Dukes will be Dukes director Joe Sumsion who saw his first ever play at The Dukes during Christmas 1973 – a production of Beauty and the Beast in which Dame Harriet Walter appeared.
Joe said: “Directing The Dukes Christmas show is an incredible honour and this one will be a great challenge, especially as we play with scale and perspective. Roald Dahl is a brilliant writer and for me, this is one of his best stories. It’s a much loved tale and we’ll tackle it with a light touch and lots of energy.”
Stepping into The BFG’s massive shoes will be Robert Pickavance who was last seen at The Dukes in the 2003 production of Dracula. Rachel Drazek, who plays Sophie, appeared in last year’s Christmas show, The Snow Queen.
The Dukes is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. Christmases past have seen a variety of shows from Toad of Toad Hall and Aladdin to The Railway Children and Jungle Book staged there. The most recent Roald Dahl adaptation to be performed at The Dukes was The Twits in 2007.
Tickets for The BFG can be booked at The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org
