Ava Potter as Lilly with Oona

The stage adaptation of children's writer Michael Morpurgo’s novel Running Wild will embark on its first UK tour in February, opening at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

The stage show, adapted by Samuel Adamson, comes complete with life-size puppets and tells a story of love, loss and loyalty.

It’s due to tour UK venues including Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre and the Hackney Empire in London until June 2017.

Synopsis

Running Wild is the story of a girl named Lilly, who, whilst on holiday with her mother in Indonesia, takes an elephant ride.

During the ride, Oona, the elephant, suddenly becomes anxious and runs from the beach deep into the jungle. With Lilly on her back, they escape moments before a tsunami hits the island.

Audiences will watch as Lily’s wonder at the jungle turns into a shocking realisation at how challenging it is to survive in the wilderness without her mother.

The story, written by Morpurgo, is based on a true story.

Selected UK tour dates:

Chichester Festival Theatre: 10th – 17th February
Wycombe Swan: 14th – 18th March
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds: 11th – 15th April
Theatre Royal, Norwich: 25th – 29th April
Newcastle Theatre Royal: 9th – 13th May
Royal & Derngate, Northampton: 23rd – 27th May
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre: 6th – 10th June

More about the stage show of Running Wild

Originated by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre, Running Wild is co-directed by CFT’s education director Dale Rooks and artistic director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Timothy Sheader.

The set and stage design have been created by Paul Wills, and the puppetry design and direction is by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié for Gyre & Gimble, both previous associate puppetry directors on War Horse.

For more information and to book tickets, school trip organisers should visit www.cft.org.uk.

(Photo credit: Johan Persson).

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