His Dark Materials brought to life by specialist puppet company
Philip Pullman’s award-winning epic fantasy, His Dark Materials, is brought to life in a major new production at the Birmingham Rep from March 13 to April 18.
Daemons, armoured bears, witches, gyptians and cliff-ghasts are just some of the magical creations from Pullman’s best-selling trilogy.
The story has been adapted for the stage into two plays by Nicholas Wright and will be directed by Rep artistic director Rachel Kavanaugh and Sarah Esdaile who are working with specialist puppet company Blind Summit Theatre and a company of 25 actors to bring Pullman’s magical worlds to life.
His Dark Materials takes audiences on a thrilling journey through worlds familiar and unknown. Pullman’s magical story unfolds in a world where young girl Lyra lives in an Oxford very like our own, but strangely different with people’s souls brought to life as animal companions known as daemons.
When Lyra overhears her uncle, Lord Asriel, arguing with the religious authorities about mysterious ‘dust’, she embarks on an incredible journey to the Arctic to try and discover the truth.
Kavanaugh most recently directed Peter Pan at West Yorkshire Playhouse and The Music Man at Chichester Festival Theatre which became the theatre’s most successful show in recent history.
Blind Summit Theatre’s puppets will bring Philip Pullman’s fantastic creatures to life. Created by Nick Barnes and Mark Down, the production features some 15 puppets.
Leading the cast as Lyra will be Amy McAllister who appeared as Boletta in the REP’s 2008 production of The Lady From The Sea.
Tickets costing £10-£32 with concessions available can be booked from www.birmingham-rep.co.uk or the box office on 0121 236 4455.
Source: Redditch Standard
Philip Pullman was born on the 19th October, 1946 in Norwich, England. Pullman is best known for the series of books entitled His Dark Materials, the award winning children’s literature consisting of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
Posted: March 9th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Philip Pullman
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