We’re excited to announce the cast for the world’s first major stage adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Secret Seven – coming to Storyhouse this Christmas.
Enid Blyton’s group of mystery solvers will be played by Harry Jardine, (Shakespeare in Love West End) George Caple (Liverpool Everyman rep company 2017), Aryana Ramkhalawon (Ode to Leeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse), Harriet Slater (Vice Versa RSC), Kaffe Keating (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, West End), Anton Cross (Barney in Storyhouse’s production of Stig of the Dump) and Molly Logan (The Grapes of Wrath, West Yorkshire Playhouse). Completing the cast is Nick Figgis (War Horse, National Theatre), Joel Sam (Swallows and Amazons Theatre by the Lake) and Tilly Mae Millbrook (A Little Night Music, The Watermill).
Returning to Chester after the summer performing in the inaugural season’s rep company are Barbara Hockaday (The Beggar’s Opera, Alice in Wonderland) and Rebecca Birch (Alice in Alice in Wonderland).
Alex Clifton said: “I am extremely excited about this incredibly talented group of actors we have to perform Glyn Maxwell’s sparkling new version of The Secret Seven. We’re having our first Christmas at Storyhouse, and with this story it’s set to be a truly magical adventure that celebrates the great bonds of childhood.”
Karen Lawler, Hachette Children’s Group said: ‘We are delighted the cast has been announced for The Secret Seven. We are very excited that today’s children will get to see real-life versions of Enid Blyton’s beloved characters as they are brought to life on stage this Christmas.’
The Secret Seven has been adapted for the stage by Glyn Maxwell (The Beggar’s Opera, Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows and Cyrano de Bergerac) with music by Harry Blake (resident composer at West Yorkshire Playhouse), who composed the music of this summer’s The Beggar’s Opera.
Working with Hachette Children’s Group, owners of Enid Blyton Entertainment, Storyhouse’s award-winning team will deliver a stylish new production of this beloved book to celebrate the power of play, imagination and community. The production, set during Christmas time, will be performed on the theatre’s intimate thrust stage, with evocative staging and an original acoustic score.
The entire building will come alive with Enid Blyton’s work as the library spaces which weave their way around the building are filled with material and images from the world of The Secret Seven. Enid Blyton’s publisher, Hodder Children’s Books, will be stocking Storyhouse children’s library with Enid Blyton’s much-loved books, ensuring her stories remain at the heart of every childhood.