Stage Adaptation

Next month the eagerly awaited first production outside London of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials opens. Playbox Theatre Company, a leading UK young people's company, will be the first in the country to produce Philip Pullman's multi-award winning trilogy, His Dark Materials, after the National Theatre's acclaimed version in 2003. Performances will be at The Dream Factory, Shelley Ave., Warwick 5 - 23 April tickets £7.50 & £10.50 box office 01926 419555.

His Dark Materials has been adapted in two parts by Nicholas Wright from Philip Pullman's hugely successful trilogy of novels: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass (which was the first children's book to win the Whitbread Prize). They were originally said to be unstageable and tell the epic saga of Lyra and Will's thrilling journey through worlds familiar and unknown. Their quest demands a savage struggle against the most dangerous of enemies and during the play they encounter fantastical creatures in parallel worlds - rebellious angels, soul-eating spectres, child-catching Gobblers, armoured bears and witch clans of the Arctic! Finally, before reaching, perhaps the Republic of Heaven, Lyra and Will must descend to the Land of the Dead.

Playbox are creating a unique experience bringing the audience into the world of Philip Pullman's trilogy over a two-part drama where the plot unfolds with an almost filmic swiftness covering worlds and dimensions beyond imagination. Kate Unwin has created an extraordinary installation of towers and varied structures enabling performers to play at various levels utilising the entire space of the theatre.

His Dark Materials will be Playbox's biggest and most adventurous show in their twenty year history and the production will be guided by 3 directors - Emily Jane Quash, Stewart McGill and Mary King.

Stewart McGill said today: "Playbox Theatre Company are taking a different route to Pullman's novels and are replacing the National Theatre's pictorial design with an abstract, almost futuristic stage installation. At the heart of the production is Lyra and her journey to find love and awareness. The show is very much about Lyra and moves from moments of intimacy to great sweeps of spectacle. We want to draw our audience into the soul of the books through a succession of challenging landscapes and to conjure up Pullman's vivid worlds on stage. We aim for a total theatre event."

Olivia Meguer and Calum Finlay, both 15 year olds from Kenilworth, were chosen to play Lyra and Will from over 300 young people from all over the West Midlands who auditioned for parts. They lead a cast of 50 playing angels, daemons, creatures, souls and spirits in different worlds. Sophie Danks plays Mrs Coulter, Michael Hood is Pantalaimon, Edward Miller is Lord Asriel, Mairin O'Hagan - Serafina Pekkala and Stephen Richmond - Lord Boreal.

His Dark Materials Part 1 - press performance Saturday 8 April at 3pm
His Dark materials Part 2 - press performance Saturday 8 April at 7.30pm

Both parts then play in repertoire until 23 April including three 'Double Days' when both plays are presented in one extraordinary event on April 13,15 & 20. These performances are proving particularly popular and are already selling out fast so book your tickets on 01926 419555 today!

For more press info, interviews or to have a photo of Lyra & Will emailed to you contact Judith Cheston 01926 419555 or 01608 661198