Michael Peavoy, Robert Jackson, Alexander Bean and Anne O'Riordan Lead Octagon Theatre's GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

The Octagon Theatre's retelling of the classic Swift novel will be enjoyed in Bolton this Summer in Queens Park from 16 - 27 August featuring familiar faces to the Octagon stage stepping out as the theatre building is closed for redevelopment.

Michael Peavoy ([The Fall of] The Master Builder, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Into The Woods, Royal Exchange Theatre) most recently played Don in the Octagon's ambitiously staged and acclaimed musical Summer Holiday. Michael has been a regular in the Octagon's 50th anniversary season also acting in Hamlet and Jane Eyre.

Also from the cast of Summer Holiday Robert Jackson (Shakespeare's Deadly Sins, Oldham Colliseum) and Alexander Bean (Teddy, Southwark Playhouse) rejoin the company for Gulliver's Travels. Robert Jackson was part of the cast of the Octagon's 2017 record breaking festive show, A Christmas Carol. Anne O'Riordan joins the cast having previously worked with Alexander Bean in the Octagon's 2016 festive show Cinderella.

Taking the lead role will be a giant puppet of Gulliver that is 8m tall and currently the largest puppet being made in the UK. The puppet is being constructed by Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge.

Throughout the production the cast will be joined by young performers and community companies culminating in the final scene that brings together local choirs from across Bolton in a colossal community collaboration.

Queens Park locations including the sunken garden, the duck pond and the amphitheatre will be transformed into the magical land of Lilliput with festoon lighting, flags and sailboats adorning the park.

Audiences will meet at the Chorley New Road entrance to Queens Park and are encouraged to bring picnics or buy catering on site supplied by production partners Carrs Pasties and the Queens Park Café.

Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director at the Octagon Theatre, said:

"As works on the Octagon theatre building are now underway we are setting sail on our outdoor adventures with Gulliver's Travels. We wanted to offer the families that come to our festive shows an exciting and fun experience for over the summer. We invite Bolton and beyond to come and join us for singing, dancing and a visit to Lilliput's Palace!

The beautiful setting of Bolton's Queens Park was the perfect choice for the tall tale of Gulliver Travels. Our brilliant partners at Queen's Park Café, BATS, local choirs, Bolton Music Service, Carrs Pasties and Bolton Council have helped us make sure that it is going to be just as extraordinary as Summer Holiday on the buses!

It will be a big spectacle - we hope lots of people will want to come along and celebrate the final production of our 50th Anniversary Season after the sell-out success of Summer Holiday and our most impactful season to date."

The production will be co-directed by Octagon Theatre's Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti and showing on evenings Thu 16 - Mon 27 Aug at 7.15pm with a matinee performance on Sat 25 Aug at 21.5pm. Ticket prices from £12 - £15.

For more information visit https://octagonbolton.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/gullivers-travels-1/

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