World Stage Premiere of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS Set for Chichester Festival Theatre

The full cast has been announced for the world stage premiere of John Boyne's highly acclaimed and best-selling international novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas which opens at Chichester Festival Theatre on 19 February, from where it will tour England until 27 June. The book, which is a KS3 level school text for 11 - 14 year olds, has been adapted for the stage by Angus Jackson. The press night is Thursday 26 February at 7 pm.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is an emotive tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys. Set during World War II, the story is seen through the eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling consequences.

John Boyne's 2006 novel has sold millions of copies around the world and has appeared on many bestseller lists including the New York Times where it reached number 1. It was made into a Miramax feature film which was released in 2008.

This play will be produced by The Children's Touring Partnership, which is led by independent producer Fiery Angel, Chichester Festival Theatre and a consortium of major regional theatres. The Partnership have previously toured Goodnight Mister Tom (which won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family) and Swallows and Amazons. There will be an extensive education programme attached to this production and there are matinee performances in all venues to accommodate school parties.

Edward Snape for the Children's Touring Partnership commented, 'The Children's Touring Partnership aims to produce and tour innovative, ambitious and engaging large scale theatrical productions for children and families. After two years of development we are very excited by this new commission which will bring this extraordinary story to life on stage for the first time'.

Chichester Festival Theatre's Artistic Director, Jonathan Church said: 'Creating and supporting high quality work for young people is an important thread running through Chichester's work, which is why we are proud to be part of the Children's Touring Partnership. We're delighted that The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas will receive its world premiere in our renewed Festival Theatre following its major refurbishment.'

The cast features Jabez Cheeseman, Cameron Duncan and Finlay Wright-Stephens as Bruno, Tom Hibberd, Colby Mulgrew and Samuel Peterson, as Shmuel, Helen Anderson as Grandmother, Lisa Baird as Ensemble, Eva Bell as Eva, Andrew Bone as Herr Liszt, Ed Brody as Kotler/Soldier, Phil Cheadle as Father, Kit Lessner as Soldier, Marianne Oldham as Mother, Robert Styles as Pavel, Eleanor Thorn as Gretel and Rosie Wyatt as Maria.

Born in Dublin, John Boyne has published nine novels for adults, including his most recent, A History of Loneliness (2014). As well as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, he has written three other novels for younger readers: Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010), The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket (2012) and Stay Where You Are And Then Leave (2013).

Angus Jackson's Chichester credits include Neville's Island (and West End), King Lear (also New York), The Browning Version (also West End), Goodnight Mister Tom (also national tour), and Bingo (also Young Vic). For the National Theatre he directed Rocket to the Moon, The Power of Yes, Fix Up and Elmina's Kitchen (also tour and West End). His film of Elmina's Kitchen won him a BAFTA Best New Director nomination.

The director is Joe Murphy, the Artistic Director of nabokov, a new writing company which is dedicated to making work in response to immediately relevant social and political themes. His 2010 production Bunny won the Scotsman Fringe First Award following its premiere in Edinburgh and went on to tour the UK. His other theatre credits include the critically acclaimed Incognito, blink (nabokov/Soho Theatre), Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (RSC and West End) as assistant director, and the West End run of Ghost Stories as resident director.

Designer Robert Innes Hopkins renews his collaboration with Angus Jackson following their previous productions at Chichester Festival Theatre: King Lear (and New York), Neville's Island (and West End), Goodnight Mister Tom (UK tour and West End), Bingo (also Young Vic) and Wallenstein. Other credits include Clybourne Park (Royal Court Theatre and West End), The Malcontent and The Comedy of Errors (both RSC).

Lighting design is by Malcolm Rippeth, an Associate Artist of Kneehigh where his credits include Tristan and Yseult, Don John, Brief Encounter and Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) in a co-production with Liverpool Everyman.

The composer is Stephen Warbeck whose credits include the film Shakespeare in Love for which he won an Academy Award. Other credits include Jerusalem (Royal Court, West End and Broadway), The Power of Yes, An Inspector Calls (both for the National Theatre) and Parlour Song (Almeida Theatre).

Sound design is by Gregory Clarke whose credits include The Merchant of Venice (Almeida Theatre), Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Medea (National Theatre).

Video design is by Andrzej Goulding whose credits include include Chichester's Pressure and Pitcairn, Union (Royal Lyceum) and Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse).

Movement is by Lizzi Gee whose credits include Goodnight Mister Tom, The Winter's Tale (RSC/UK tour) and Vernon God Little (Young Vic).

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