Salford set for a stinky summer!
SALFORD SET FOR A STINKY SUMMER
DAVID WALLIAMS’ HILARIOUS CHILDREN’S NOVEL COMES TO LIFE AS WORLD PREMERE UK TOUR WAFTS INTO THE LOWRY
Mr Stink stank. He also stunk.
And if it is correct English to say he stinked,
then he stinked as well.
MR STINK, a brand new musical comedy based on the award winning children’s novel written by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake comes to The Lowry for an especially smelly two week run this summer from Tue 2 - Sun 14 August.
This perfectly putrid production comes to The Lowry as part of a 20 date world premiere tour, proudly presented by KW & NB Ltd and Curve, Leicester with Hackney Empire and Nottingham Playhouse.
David Walliams, star of Little Britain and Come Fly with Me has written the smelliest book of all time breaking new ground by being the first ever interactive scratch ‘n’ sniff family show! Each audience member will be given a free scratch ‘n’ sniff booklet bringing Mr Stink pongingly to life.
Chloe doesn’t like school very much. She isn’t as cool as the other kids, no iPhone, no DS and no friends. Then she meets Mr Stink – the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit but he’s the only person who’s ever been nice to her, including her mother who wants to be the local MP and is trying to rid the streets of its homeless. About to lose her only friend, Chloe finds Mr Stink a secret hiding place…but is there more to him than meets the nose?
Mr Stink is adapted and directed by Matthew White (Director of the recent West End productions of Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors and the forthcoming production of Top Hat) with a catchy musical score composed by Matt Brind (Musical Director for Legally Blonde and Conductor and Orchestrator for John Barrowman’s latest album).
A pungent musical comedy with enchanting puppetry and enthralling performances, Mr Stink is a unique way for families to spend a school holiday afternoon or evening together. The show also lends itself perfectly to summer groups/camps and youth clubs, an education pack is available on request.
David Walliams, who’s not in the show, really wants you to come and see it!
Suitable for children aged 7+ and their families.
‘EXCELLENT ’
whatsonstage.com
‘A funny, original and thought-provoking tale! Hilarious.’
The Times Book Review
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
MR STINK
The Lowry
Tue 2 – Sun 14 August
Times: Tue 2 – Sat 13 August eves 7pm, Tue – Sun matinees, 2.30pm, Sun 14 August, 1.30 & 5.30pm
NB, no 2.30pm show on Tue 2 August, no performances on Mon 8 August.
Tickets: Adults: £18.50, Children: £16.50. Family Tickets: (family of 4) £66, (family of 8) £122
How to Book: In person from The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ, call 0843 208 6010 or go online www.thelowry.com
Running time: 2 hrs 10 minutes including an interval.
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For more information, images, interview and competition requests or review tickets, please contact John Bridge at Bill Elms Associates on 0151 245 0136 | 07792463135 | john@billelms.com
PRESS PERFORMANCE - TUESDAY 2 AUGUST, 7PM.
Image Gallery
For images, please go to The Lowry’s image library www.thelowryimages.com. New users need to register by clicking on ‘register’ on the left hand side of the page, fill in the required information (which includes creating your own password) and click ‘create account’. You will then have access to images via the log-in page by clicking on Images Available > Theatres >Family Shows>Mr Stink
Notes to Editors
A written Q and A with David Walliams is available on request.
THE AUTHORS OF MR STINK THE NOVEL: DAVID WALLIAMS and QUENTIN BLAKE
David Walliams comedian, writer and actor, first turned his hand to writing for children in 2008 with The Boy in the Dress. Mr Stink followed a year later in November 2009. Both are beautifully illustrated by leading children’s illustrator Quentin Blake. In October 2010 David Walliams published his third book Billionaire Boy illustrated by Tony Ross (illustrator of the Horrid Henry series). David has sold over 250,000 books to date. David Walliams is best known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain. He co-wrote and starred in three series all aired on BBC 1 from 2003 – 2005, with a number of seasonal and charity specials to follow. David Walliams and Matt Lucas returned to our screens in a prime-time television slot on BBC One on Christmas Day opening a six part series called Come Fly with Me; a similar sketch show style to Little Britain commissioned by the Head of Comedy at the BBC.
David Walliams is no stranger to the theatre; in 2008 he performed at The Gate Theatre in Dublin opposite Michael Gambon in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land. The production transferred to the West End later in the year and was enjoyed by Pinter himself. Walliams is also known for his charity sporting achievements; swimming the English Channel for Sport Relief in 2006 and later this year swims the river Thames for the same charity.
Quentin Blake is one of Britain's best-loved and most successful illustrators and children's authors. His first drawings were published in Punch when he was sixteen. He has illustrated over three hundred books; other than David Walliams he has worked with writers such as Michael Rosen, Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, John Yeoman and, most famously of all, Roald Dahl. Quentin Blake writes and illustrates his own books as well, creating such characters as Mister Magnolia, Mrs. Armitage and Clown. He has also illustrated classic books for adults. For many years he taught at the Royal College of Art, where he was head of the Illustration Department from 1978 to 1986. He has won many awards and prizes, and was made a CBE in 2005. According to The Guardian, he was 'already a national institution' when he was appointed the first Children's Laureate in 1999. Since then he has had an additional career as an exhibition curator working in galleries in London and Paris among others.
SCRATCH ‘N’ SNIFF
Mr. Stink will be the first ever ‘scratch ‘n’ sniff’ production – the first stage show to actually pong! Each audience member will be given a free A6 booklet. On each page there will be an encapsulated smell alongside one of Blake’s illustrations that depicts that particular odour. Written into the production are six ‘scratch ‘n’ sniff’ moments; the audience members will be encouraged by Mr Stink’s dog The Duchess, to scratch the appropriate page with the smell and really smell the delights of Raj’s sweetshop or the horrors of Mr Stink’s flatulence! The booklet is being put together by Celessence Technologies, an innovative UK based manufacturing company specializing in micro-encapsulation (imagine millions of tiny bubble wrap type pockets filled with a smell that when broken from scratching, releases the fragrance to your repulsion or delight!).
CAST & CREATIVES – Biographies available on request
Matthew White Adaptor and Director
Matt Brind Composer/ Musical Supervisor
Charlie Cridlan Designer
Toby Olié Puppets & Puppetry
Peter Edbrook Mr Stink
Lotte Gilmore Chloe
Julia Nagle Mrs Crumb / Various
Mark Peachey Mr Crumb / Various
Irvine Iqbal Raj / Various
THE PUPPETS
The Duchess Mr Stink’s faithful Dog
Annabelle Chloe’s perfect Sister
Elizabeth The Crumb family Cat
KW & NB LTD has fast established itself as one of the country’s leading producers of live theatrical entertainment for family audiences. Specializing in the stage adaptations of book titles, it has enjoyed great success with Michael Rosen’s We’re going on a Bear Hunt, Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and Room on the Broom. In 2011, the company are delighted to present two brand new productions, David Walliams’ Mr Stink, the first ever scratch ‘n’ sniff show and David McKee’s cult classic
MR BENN: The Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Man.
Curve, Leicester is one of the most exciting theatres in the country – a home for theatrical discovery and innovation so it’s the perfect place for MR STINK to start life. Curve is passionate about producing bold, high quality work which embraces many different theatrical styles and cultures.
Hackney Empire provides quality entertainment including dance, musical theatre, comedy, music and much more. We also provide workshops and courses for the local community and young people. For more information see www.hackneyempire.co.uk or call 020 8985 2424.
Nottingham Playhouse has been one of the United Kingdom’s leading producing theatres since its foundation in 1948. Touring work nationally and internationally, the Playhouse remains firmly rooted in its vibrant home city, where its spacious modernist building – fronted by Anish Kapoor’s Sky Mirror – is one of the region’s most popular landmarks. Within these walls we create productions large and small: timeless classics, enthralling family shows and adventurous new commissions.
Book Text © David Walliams 2009, Illustrations © Quentin Blake 2009. Book published by Harper Collins.
Posted on Thursday, 30 June 2011 under News Press General Press Theatre Press