Full Casting Announced For The First Production In Polka Theatre's New Season, Michael Rosen's CHOCOLATE CAKE

Polka Theatre today announces full casting for the world première of the brand new musical adaptation of Michael Rosen's Chocolate Cake, opening the new Spring/Summer season. The production opens with previews from 23 March and runs until 13 May. It has been adapted by the theatre's Artistic Director, Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr. Glanville also directs Mark Houston (Michael), Aminita Francis (Teacher/Mum) and Todd Heppenstall (Brother) in the production.

When I was a boy, I had a favourite treat. It was when my mum made... Chocolate Cake!

Follow the adventures of two brothers and the night-time disappearance of a chocolate cake in this scrumptious new musical adaptation by the creators of We're Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion from Michael Rosen's beloved poem Chocolate Cake, which has just been published as a picture book.

Michael Rosen is the author of over 140 books of poetry, stories and politics. He was the Children's Laureate between 2007-9 and is currently the professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths University. He has won numerous international awards for his work in literature and he also presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4.

Peter Glanville became Artistic Director of Polka Theatre in 2013 following eight years as Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Little Angel Theatre. He has directed acclaimed productions for Polka including Royal Opera House co-production Hatch, Moomin Summer Madness (co-directed with Dani Parr) and early years Opera Skitterbang Island. For Little Angel Theatre he directed Macbeth, The Snow Queen, Michael Rosen's The Magician's Daughter, The Tempest (RSC co-Production) and Carol Ann Duffy's The Tear Thief (narrated by Juliet Stevenson). Glanville has previously collaborated with Barb Jungr on three musicals - Fabulous Flutterbys, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion (co-produced with Oxford Playhouse). His productions of The Tempest and The Tear Thief were both nominated for in the Offies for Best Production for Young People, and his Peter Pan won the award in 2015. He pioneered puppet work for adults alongside children's shows and introduced the biennial SUSPENSE London Puppetry Festival and also directed a short marionette film for the RSC's production of Matilda.

Internationally acclaimed award-winning singer, songwriter and performer Barb Jungr has released numerous albums, appeared on television, is often heard on national radio and has performed all over the world. Her writing and composing credits include The Fabulous Flutterbys (Little Angel Theatre and touring), We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Little Angel and touring) and lyricist for Birmingham Stage Company's The Jungle Book. Most recently she co-adapted and wrote the lyrics and music for Helen Stephens' How to Hide a Lion (Polka Theatre/Oxford Playhouse and touring) and co-adapted and wrote lyrics and music for The Singing Mermaid (Little Angel/Royal and Derngate). She is lyricist and book writer of Liver Birds Flying Home which opens in 2018 at Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre. www.barbjungr.com

Mark Houston plays Michael. For theatre his credits include Sleeping Beauty and Jack and The Beanstalk (Hall For Cornwall).

Aminita Francis plays Teacher/Mum. For theatre her credits include Frankenstein - A Monster of a Musical (Battersea Arts Centre), Bite Your Tongue (Talawa), Romeo and Juliet and The Arsonists (N1 Theatre Company), Blood Wedding (Court 27) and The Winter's Tale (RSC); and for television, The Choir.

Todd Heppenstall plays Brother. His theatre credits include The Room Upstairs (Cheltenham Everyman/Wardrobe Theatre), Ten Foot Tales (Hull Truck), Andy Capp: The Musical (Finborough Theatre), The Day After - They Went Off on One (The Vaults) and The Last Days of Mankind (Bristol Old Vic).

This season also marks the launch of our 'Remember when?' Polka Memories campaign. As Polka approaches its 40th birthday in 2019, the theatre is introducing a new initiative for visitors past and present to share their memories of the theatre over the last 40 years. Some of the memories collated may also be featured in a special anniversary play or in a 'living history' display. Everyone will also have the chance to vote for their favourite Polka production of all time.

Children's novelist and poet, Michael Rosen has offered the first memory to launch the campaign,"My oldest children were very young when we came to see shows like Please Mrs Butler. I remember we felt moved and uplifted. Much later, Polka did versions of my Pinocchio, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Happy Harry's Cafe. All were exciting, thoughtful, productions taking children seriously, engaging them in feelings and ideas."

To share your memories please visit polkatheatre.com/rememberwhen

Polka is one of the UK's leading theatre venues for children ages 0 - 12. Over 90,000 children, along with their families and teachers, from across London and the South East visit each year to see inspiring, new theatre including plays, opera, dance, digital theatre and puppetry as well as interactive storytelling and creative learning workshops. Although firmly rooted in the local community, Polka is a National Theatre Company with productions travelling across the UK and overseas to cities as far apart as Toronto, Istanbul, Shanghai, Sydney and Hong Kong.

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