tutti frutti & York Theatre Royal Present Emma Reeves' New Adaptation of UGLY DUCKLING

Meet the most unusual duckling the pond has ever seen!

Fresh from the critical acclaim for last year's co-production of Underneath a Magical Moon, the highly praised Leeds company tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal team up again to stage a new adaptation by Olivier Award nominated writer Emma Reeves of Hans Christian Andersen's much-loved tale - the Ugly Duckling.

The new production opens at York Theatre Royal on 28 September and runs until 14 October, then tours until 3 February 2018.

In their nest at the edge of a pond, the baby ducklings wait impatiently for Mummy's enormous egg to hatch. But their new brother doesn't look like everyone else. He doesn't even quack like a proper duckling!

Teased and called Ugly by his siblings, our hero goes on an adventure in search of a place to fit in. As the woodland trees change from dark weathered branches to silver sticks of frost, the lost and lonely fledgling hides in brushwood and stares skyward at the migrating swans, yearning to belong and marvelling at their beauty.... Where does he really belong?

Moving through all four seasons, tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal bring to life Hans Christian Andersen's well-known tale. With a menagerie of mischievous animals, depicted through inventive physicality, and live music that quacks and trills, this charming production plays with the importance of identity, self-worth and takes us on a journey to discover inner beauty.

Ugly Duckling is directed by tutti frutti's artistic director Wendy Harris, with design by Catherine Chapman, movement from Holly Irving, music by Tayo Akinbode and puppets designed by Nick Ash. The cast will feature Danny Childs, Daniel Naddafy and Maeve Leahy.

In 2014 playwright Emma Reeves adapted Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather for the stage and was subsequently nominated in the Best Entertainment & Family category at the 2015 Olivier Awards. Emma has also written some episodes for the forthcoming television version of Hetty Feather. Her other stage adaptations include Carrie's War, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables and Cool Hand Luke. She co-created and wrote the hit CBBC series Eve. Other TV credits include The Dumping Ground, Tracy Beaker Returns, Young Dracula and Sadie J. In 2016 Emma won for Best Children's TV Episode for Eve: Final Episode- Control, Alter, Delete

Playwright Emma Reeves said about the new adaptation:

Ugly Duckling is a classic story about families, identity and finding your place in the world. It's funny, sad sometimes but ultimately uplifting. It's great to be working with tutti frutti again, exploring such a timeless and joyful story.

Ugly Duckling runs at York Theatre Royal from 28 September - 14 October, then tours until the end of the year including a season at London's Albany Theatre from 4-31 December. After the UK tour the production will visit to The Kids Fest in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Ugly Duckling is a must-see new production with exquisite music, enthralling movement and a sprinkle of tutti frutti magic for children aged 3+ and their families to enjoy.

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