The stage adaptation of Eric Idle’s The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat is to have its world première at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Based on the best-selling book by Eric Idle and inspired by Edward Lear’s poem, The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat has been adapted for the stage by Dougal Irvine.
Eric Idle said, “I love the Belgrade Theatre because it’s where we first performed Monty Python’s Flying Circus live on stage for three sold-out midnight shows.”
He said his daughter had inspired him to turn Lear’s poem into a children’s book. “I would always recite the poem to her and occasionally even play it as a song. I love Edward Lear and his Nonsense is very interesting.”
This “surreal and brilliantly chaotic” musical follows the Owl and the Pussycat on their mission to save the world and defeat the dastardly Firelord, his imaginary dragon Pyron and his henchmen, Flicker and Brimstone.
Their adventures take them across the Gromboolian plains, down a river of jam and over a frozen rainbow—helped by a host of characters including a resurrected dinosaur skeleton, the Pie-Rats and a dancing pig in sunglasses.
The Belgrade’s artistic director Hamish Glen directs this co-production between the Coventry theatre and Sell A Door Family. Set and costume design are by Libby Watson and video projection by Dick Straker. Lighting designer is Mike Robertson, sound designer Andy Graham and movement director Cressida Carré.
The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat runs at the Belgrade from Saturday 18 February until Saturday 4 March.