Photo Flash: First Look at CHOCOLATE CAKE at the Polka Theatre

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).

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