FRIDAY 6 – SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2019
The Lovely Bones, one of the bestselling novels of the 21st century, opens its UK tour at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 6 September. Following a hugely successful world première in 2018 the show returns due to popular demand before touring to ten other major UK theatres.
Adapted by the Tony-nominated Bryony Lavery and directed by the Olivier award-nominated Melly Still, the show sees the return of Charlotte Beaumont following her critically acclaimed portrayal as Susie Salmon in the original production.
The Lovely Bones tells the story of young girl Susie Salmon, who is just like any other girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school.
There’s one big difference though – Susie is dead.
Now she can only observe while her family manage their grief in their different ways. Her father Jack is obsessed with identifying the killer. Her mother Abigail is desperate to create a different life for herself. And her sister Lindsey is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that Susie will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them…
Alice Sebold’s novel The Lovely Bones is a unique coming-of-age tale that captured the hearts of readers throughout the world. With a talented cast, incredible set design and a soundtrack combining 70’s favourites with original music, this wonderfully creative production brings her vision to life in an exciting, emotional and uplifting theatrical experience.
Reflecting on The Lovely Bones, director Melly Still said:
The Lovely Bones is a coming-of-age story with a twist, one that manages to be both heart-rending and improbably uplifting. It confronts a parent’s worst fears, unfalteringly gives voice to the unspeakable, and yet laughter and solace are dosed up in equal measure. Make-believe, as a tool for hope and redemption, is at the heart of The Lovely Bones. Not just the domain for children, it becomes an inescapable part of being human. Narrative, make believe and storytelling becomes an important part of the healing process in times of real trauma and grief. I hope people enjoy the show as much as we have enjoyed making it.
The actors joining Charlotte Beaumont (Susie Salmon) are: Catrin Aaron (Abigail Salmon), Radhika Aggarwal (Heavenly Girl 2), Fanta Barrie (Lindsay Salmon), Samuel Gosrani (Ray/Holliday), Leah Haile (Heavenly Girl 1), Avita Jay (Franny/Ruana), Andrew Joshi (Heavenly Girl 3), Nicholas Khan (Mr Harvey), Leigh Lothian (Ruth Connors), Huw Parmenter (Sam/Len), Lynda Rooke (Lyn) and Jack Sandle (Jack Salmon).
Design for The Lovely Bones is by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita; composer is Dave Price; Lighting Designer: Matt Haskins; Sound Designer: Helen Skiera; Movement Director: Mike Ashcroft Assistant Director: Lucy Bird.
The Lovely Bones is a Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Northern Stage co-production in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.