The world première of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, one of the best-selling novels of the 21st century, is to be staged at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate before going on tour.
Adapted by Bryony Lavery, the production is part of the theatre’s Made in Northampton season and tells the story of Susie Salmon who is just like any other girl: she wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. The one difference is that Susie is dead.
Alice Sebold’s coming-of-age tale was published in 2002. It became a best-seller around the world, winning the Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Fiction 2003.
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 the TV series Broadchurch. Jack Sandle, who played Gefreiter Karl in the National Theatre production of War Horse and Mr Antony in Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild on a UK tour in 2017, will be Jack Salmon.
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, plays Abigail Salmon.
Ayoola Smart is sister Lindsay, Pete Ashmore plays Len Fenerman and Samuel, Bhawna Bhawsar is Ruana Singh and Franny, Susan Bovell takes the roles of Lynn and Mrs Flanagan, Natasha Cottriall is Ruth Connors and Buckley Salmon, Keith Dunphy plays Mr Harvey and Karan Gill is Ray Singh and Principal Caden.
The Lovely Bones, a co-production with Birmingham REP and Northern Stage in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, is directed by Melly Still. Designer is Ana Inés Jabares-Pita and lighting designer is Matt Haskins. Composer is Dave Price, sound designer is Helen Skiera and Mike Ashcroft is movement director.
It opens at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate from Saturday 1 until Saturday 22 September. It tours 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.