The cast and creative team have been confirmed for the world première of The Lovely Bones, Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s novel.
The play is a co-production involving Northampton’s Royal and Derngate, Liverpool Everyman, Newcastle’s Northern Stage and Birmingham REP.
In the ten-strong ensemble cast, the part of Susie Salmon will be played by Charlotte Beaumont, known for her role as Chloe Latimer in TV series Broadchurch.
Jack Sandle will play Jack Salmon. He took the role of Mr Anthony in Samuel Adamson’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild, a Children’s Touring Partnership production, in 2017.
Emily Bevan, who was Eleanor in Anthony Neilson’s adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse in 2015, will play Abigail Salmon.
Ayoola Smart, who was Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello at London’s Unicorn Theatre earlier in 2018, takes the role of sister Lindsay.
Kevin Dunphy plays Mr Harvey, Pete Ashmore is Len Fenerman and Samuel, Bhawna Bhawsar plays Ruana Singh and Franny, Susan Bovell takes the roles of Lynn, Cop and Mrs Flanagan, Natasha Cottriall is Ruth Connors and Buckley Salmon and Karan Gill takes the roles of Ray Singh and Principal Caden.
Melly Still directs. Designer is Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, lighting designer is Matt Haskins, sound design is by Helen Skiera and movement direction is by Mike Ashcroft. Music will be composed by Dave Price.
The Lovely Bones will open at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate from Saturday 1 until Saturday 22 September. It transfers to Liverpool Everyman from Tuesday 25 September until Saturday 6 October, Northern Stage, Newcastle from Tuesday 9 until Saturday 20 October, Birmingham REP from Tuesday 30 October until Saturday 10 November and New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from Tuesday 13 until Saturday 17 November.