Michael Morpurgo's RUNNING WILD Will Tour the UK

Children's Touring Partnership is delighted to announce, on Elephant Appreciation Day (22 September), the first UK Tour of Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo in an adaptation by Samuel Adamson, beginning at Chichester Festival Theatre on 10 February 2017. Michael Morpurgo's novel, based on a true story, is brought to life in this award-winning production, which has been described by critics as 'inspiring', 'evocative, 'imaginative' and 'life-affirming'. Originally produced by Regent's Park Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre, this epic production, complete with spectacular life-size puppets, tells an emotional and moving story of love, loss and loyalty and of living for the moment.

Running Wild is the story is of a girl named Lilly, who, whilst on holiday with her mother in Indonesia, takes an elephant ride. During the ride, Oona, the elephant, suddenly becomes anxious and runs from the beach deep into the jungle. With Lilly on her back, they escape moments before the tsunami hits the island. Miles from civilisation, at first there's wonder, discovery and tree-top adventures with the orangutans, but, as thoughts turn to her mother left behind on the beach, and wild tigers prowl, and hunger hits, Lilly must now learn to survive the rainforest. And then the hunters come...

Michael Morpurgo, the former children's laureate and author of War Horse, was inspired by the real-life story of Amber Owen, who was on holiday in Phuket with her mother and stepfather in 2004, when she went on an elephant ride. While riding Ning Nong along the beach, the eight-year-old noticed the elephant was attempting to pull away from the receding sea water. "He ran away and, as the water came in, I was safely on his back. He saved my life." When he read Amber's story in the newspaper, Michael Morpurgo said it was the one bit of hope amid the destruction of the Boxing Day tsunami which hit South East Asia. The production will work to support the Born Free Foundation's global elephant conservation projects.
Originated by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre, when it won a prestigious UK Theatre Award, before receiving its London premiere at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Running Wild is co-directed by CFT's Education Director Dale Rooks and Artistic Director of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Timothy Sheader, with set and costume design by Paul Wills, puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié for Gyre & Gimble, both previous Associate Puppetry Directors on War Horse, original songs and composition by Rod Paton, additional music by Nick Powell and Louise Anna Duggan, sound score by Nick Powell, and lighting design by Paul Anderson. Casting director for the UK Tour is Polly Jerrold, with original casting for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre by Jessica Ronane CDG.
The UK Tour of Running Wild has received Arts Council funding.

For more information, visit www.runningwildlive.co.uk.

Facebook: RunningWildLive

Twitter: @runningwildlive

LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE UK TOUR

10-17 February 2017 Chichester Festival Theatre Now on sale

www.cft.org.uk 01234 781312

22 - 25 February 2017 Belgrade Theatre, Coventry On sale soon

www.belgrade.co.uk 024 7655 3055

7 - 11 March 2017 Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield Now on sale

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk 0114 249 6000

14 - 18 March 2017 Wycombe Swan Now on sale www.wycombeswan.co.uk 01494 512 000

22 - 25 March 2017 Hackney Empire, London On sale soon

www.hackneyempire.co.uk 020 8985 2424

4 - 8 April Grand Theatre, Blackpool Now on sale

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk 01253 290190

11 - 15 April West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Now on sale

www.wyp.org.uk 0113 213 7700

18 - 22 April 2017 The Lowry, Salford On sale soon

www.thelowry.com 0843 208 6000

25 - 29 April 2017 Theatre Royal, Norwich On sale soon www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 01603 630000

2 - 6 May 2017 Kings Theatre, Edinburgh Now on sale www.edtheatres.com/king 0131 529 6000

9 - 13 May 2017 Newcastle Theatre Royal On sale soon www.theatreroyal.co.uk 0844 811 2121

16 - 20 May 2017 Theatre Royal Plymouth On sale soon

www.theatreroyal.com 01752 267 222

23 - 27 May 2017 Royal & Derngate, Northampton On sale soon

www.royalandderngate.co.uk 01604 624811

31 May - 3 June 2017 The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Now on sale

www.marlowetheatre.com 01227 787787

6 - 10 June 2017 Wolverhampton Grand Theatre On sale soon

www.grandtheatre.co.uk 01902 429 212

Running time: 110 mins including interval

Age guidance: 6+

The Children's Touring Partnership is a producing partnership led by independent producer Fiery Angel and Chichester Festival Theatre and a consortium of major regional theatres. The Partnership seeks to tour imaginative and bold theatre of the highest quality, with a particular emphasis on producing work nationwide for children aged eight years and above. The Partnership links theatre to education through a variety of events, workshops and talks.

In 2011, the Partnership was awarded a grant from Arts Council England to tour a new stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian's classic novel, Goodnight Mister Tom. The production toured for 14 weeks and was a success with both critics and audiences. Later in 2011, the Children's Touring Partnership teamed up with the National Theatre to present Bristol Old Vic's musical adaptation of Swallows and Amazons by Helen Edmundson and Neil Hannon. Swallows and Amazons opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in London and played a limited Christmas season prior to a 17-week UK-wide tour.

Most recently the Partnership has toured the premiere of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne in 2015.

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK's flagship theatres with an international reputation for producing work of the highest quality, ranging from large-scale musicals to distinguished dramas. Situated in a cathedral city in West Sussex between the South Downs and the sea, the Festival Theatre's bold thrust stage design makes it one of England's most striking playhouses; a Studio Theatre, the Minerva Theatre, sits nearby.

Numerous Chichester productions have recently been presented in London. Jonathan Kent's staging of Young Chekhovtransferred to the National Theatre, and Guys and Dolls played at the West End's Savoy and Phoenix Theatres while simultaneously touring the UK. The National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre production of James Graham's This House will transfer to the Garrick Theatre in November; and Love's Labour's Lost and Much Ado About Nothing will transfer to the West End from December, jointly presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company, CFT and the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Alongside its productions, the Theatre has a much-valued programme of learning and participation work. It has built and strengthened connections within the community through Youth Theatre groups, classes in writing, dance, and drama for a variety of ages, and Heritage activities to document its rich history.

The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.

Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk

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