WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD Set for 2014 London Summer Season, Beg. Today

Based on the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks, WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD will kick off a UK and international tour in 2014, stopping at Richmond and Cadogan Hall for a London summer season.

RICHMOND - RICHMOND THEATRE: Thur 3 - Sun 6 July

LONDON - CADOGAN HALL: Wed 24 July - Sun 10 August

From Julia Donaldson, the best-selling author of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks, comes What the Ladybird Heard. Now a glittering new stage adaptation with live music, original songs, puppetry and lots of interactive fun. Direct from a smashing winter season at Birmingham Town Hall and Artsfest Hong Kong and Singapore.

Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer's fine prize cow. But they reckon without the tiniest, quietest creature of all: The Ladybird has a plan of her own! Join the woolly sheep, the hairy hog, the fat red hen and the dainty dog take on the villains and win, in this brand new stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks' colourful farmyard adventure.

With live instrumental music, original songs, rhyming and repetition, this production is the perfect family treat and at 55 minutes is the ideal introduction to theatre for pre and primary school children - recommended for families with children 3+.

What the Ladybird Heard is produced by Kenny Wax [Top Hat the Musical] in association with Matthew Gregory, adapted and directed for the stage by Graham Hubbard, original composition and sound design by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw [The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom] for Shock Productions. Design by Bek Palmer with award-winning book illustrator Lydia Monks as design consultant for the production and lighting design by Rick Mountjoy.

The cast are: Rosamund Hine - Jo; Rachael Henley - Lily; Matt Bateman - Hefty Hugh; Matt Jopling - Lanky Len; and David Shute - Understudy/Asm.

Julia Donaldson - Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of some of the world's best-loved children's books. Her first picture book, A Squash and A Squeeze, was published over twenty years ago, and since then she has written over 160 books, including the modern classic The Gruffalo. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle series illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the 2011-2013 UK Children's Laureate, has an MBE from the Queen and you can even find a painting of her in The National Portrait Gallery in London.

Lydia Monks - Lydia Monks is an award winning author & illustrator, best known for her quirky and colourful picture books. Lydia has collaborated with Julia Donaldson on What the Ladybird Heard, The Princess Mirrorbelle fiction titles, The Singing Mermaid and most recently Sugarlump and the Unicorn. We're extremely proud to have Lydia as design consultant for the stage adaptation of What the Ladybird Heard.

LONDON LISTINGS

RICHMOND

RICHMOND THEATRE

Thur 3 - Sun 6 July

Box Office: 0844 871 7651

www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/

LONDON

CADOGAN HALL

Wed 24 July - Sun 10 August

Box Office: 020 7730 4500

http://www.cadoganhall.com/

For a full UK tour listing, visit www.whattheladybirdheardlive.co.uk.

All illustrations copyright © Lydia Monks. Originally published by Macmillan Children's Books. Production photography by Robert Workman.

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