A new stage version of Disney’s Academy Award-winning movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks will make its world première at Newcastle Theatre Royal from 14 to 21 August, 2021 before setting off on a national tour, including a 5-week Christmas season at Leeds Grand, finishing on 23 January 2022 at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.
Tickets for many venues, including Newcastle, are now on sale from the show's web site.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is produced by Michael Harrison, who was born in Wallsend and credits the Theatre Royal as the inspiration for his love of theatre. He is Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment and has produced the Danny Adams and Clive Webb pantos at the venue for many years. In 2017, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Newcastle in recognition of his services to theatre in the region.
When the three orphaned Rawlins children are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all. Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.
The stage version has the original songs by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), including "Portobello Road", "The Age Of Not Believing", "The Beautiful Briny", as well as new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill. It will be directed by award-winning theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.
Tour details
Wed 25 – Sun 29 August
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Wed 1 – Sun 5 September
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Wed 8 – Sun 12 September
The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
Tues 14 – Sun 19 September
Milton Keynes Theatre
Tues 21 – Sat 25 September
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Tues 28 September – Sunday 3 October
Norwich Theatre Royal
Wed 6 – Sun 10 October
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Wed 13 – Sun 17 October
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
Tues 19 – Sun 24 October
Palace Theatre, Manchester
Tues 26 – Sat 30 October
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
Tues 2 – Sun 7 November
King’s Theatre, Glasgow
Wed 10 – Sun 14 November
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Wed 17 – Sun 21 November
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
Wed 24 – Sun 28 November
Orchard Theatre, Dartford
Wed 8 December 2021 – Sun 9 January
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Tues 11 – Sun 16 January
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Wed 19 – Sun 23 January
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh