Chitty tours again
Producer hopeful for Edinburgh dates
Leith-based musicals producer Music & Lyrics Limited has announced a new touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with West Yorkshire Playhouse.
The production will open at the Leeds venue on December 2, 2015. It will tour the UK and Ireland “throughout 2016”, with an opening night for the tour on February 10 at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
Original musical publicity material
While further dates and casting have still to be announced, producer John Stalker told Æ that he is “hopeful” that the production will tour to Edinburgh. Music & Lyrics’ production of Oklahoma! is currently playing Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.
The new production will be directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse’s artistic director James Brining with new choreography by Stephen Mear and production design by Simon Higlett.
James Brining said: “Directing such an iconic show is a great opportunity, a thrilling challenge for any director. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a brilliant adventure story, filled with classic songs and scenes that hold so many memories for so many people. I cannot wait to bring the show not only to Leeds but also to audiences across the UK and Ireland.”
The producers are promising “sensational sets and stunning special effects” for the production. The key question for the creatives will be how the flying car at the heart of the story will be brought to the stage.
The score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, expands on their work on the original movie – itself based on an Ian Fleming story.
Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the original 2002 musical commented, “We are delighted Chitty will fly once again around the UK and Ireland. The show has a very special place in our hearts and we are happy to entrust it to Music & Lyrics and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.”
Announcing the tour, John Stalker said: “Music & Lyrics is honoured to be bringing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang back to the stage and into the lives of hundreds of thousands of theatregoers. Our new production will delight and enthral lovers of the fantasmagorical film and introduce Chitty to brand new audiences.”
The original musical of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang toured to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the Christmas season 2006, staying for ten weeks. The remounted 2009/10 tour spent three weeks at the theatre in May/June 2010.
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Will chitty chitty bang bang be back in Scotland 2021 or 2022