Created especially for Chichester Festival Theatre by Michael Murpurgo, Hey Christmas Tree is a festive story about "the importance of finding friendship and somewhere to call home."
Inspired by Morpurgo's book of poems My Heart Was a Tree and written for the stage by Vicki Berwick with music and lyrics by Eamonn O'Dwyer, Hey! Christmas Tree runs at Chichester's Minerva Theatre 7–29 December. The director is Dale Rooks.
The cast is Olivia Arnold as Yulia, Callum Balmforth as Winston, Samantha Bingley as Susan The Snow Woman / Father Christmas, Amanda Gordon as Mavis and Nick Howard-Brown as Tree.
Rooks said, "I'm thrilled to have gathered such a wonderful company for the world première of Michael Morpurgo and Vicki Berwick's delightful tale, and am particularly delighted that the team includes five former Chichester Festival Youth Theatre Members. I'm so looking forward to working with them all again".
Tree is rescued from the forest at Christmas time by Mavis, the motorbiking park ranger, who lives with cheeky cat Winston and 9-year-old Yulia, who doesn't want to talk and is a long way from home. Tree has never had Christmas before and isn't sure about the decorations he has to wear, but he meets Father Christmas and the Snow Woman and, with Yulia to care for him, he starts to dance. The seasons come and go, Tree grows taller, and soon Christmas comes around once again and alongside the gifts in their stockings is the best present of all.
Designer is Lily Arnold, with lighting design by James Whiteside, sound design by Andy Graham, movement direction by Georgina Lamb and video design by Dan Hill. It is recommended for ages 3–7. There will be a relaxed and BSL performance on 29 December at 10:30AM.