Kiki's Delivery Service returns to Southwark Playhouse this summer
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THIS summer, Kiki’s Delivery Service is returning to Southwark Playhouse, where it will run for a limited season – from August 15 (previews from August 10) to September 3, 2017.
The production, which is the best-selling play in Southwark Playhouse’s history, is adapted by Jessica Siân (from the Japanese children’s book by Eiko Kadono) and directed by Kate Hewitt. Casting is to be announced.
Tickets: Previews (August 10 – 13) – all tickets £12; From August 15 – £20, £16 concessions; Family ticket – £64.
Times: Tuesday to Sunday at 3pm and 7.30pm.
Previously Posted: Southwark Playhouse has announced the world premiere of Jessica Siân’s brand new theatrical adaptation of Eiko Kadono’s bestselling, award-winning book Kiki’s Delivery Service. Directed by Kate Hewitt, it runs from Thursday, December 8, 2016 to Sunday, January 8, 2017.
Kiki is a 13 year old witch and, as tradition dictates, it is time for her to leave home and family to make a new life for herself. Equipped with her ability to fly and accompanied by Jiji, her faithful feline companion, she sets out to find a place where she can use her powers for the greater good and that one day she might call home.
A magical tale of growing up and finding acceptance Kiki’s Delivery Service is a story for everyone aged 7 and up.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is adapted from the bestselling and award-winning book by Japanese author Eiko Kadono. The book has previously been adapted in to a live action film and most notably an award-winning animation by Studio Ghibli.
Casting and further creative details will be be announced in due course.
Playwright Jessica Siân is a South-African born playwright and actor based in London. Her first full-length play Klippies ran at Southwark Playhouse in 2015. Siân has acted at the Bush Theatre, Latitude Festival, Southwark Playhouse and Theatre503. She trained on the Royal Court Young Writers program and her previous work includes short pieces for Theatre503’s Rapid Write Response and Papercut Theatre’s XY at Edinburgh Festival.
Director Kate Hewitt is currently Associate Director on Sam Mendes’ production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. In 2015, she directed Tomcat at Southwark Playhouse and she has just finished working with the National Youth Theatre on their Epic Stages Project.
Eiko Kadono is a Japanese author of children’s literature, picture books, non-fiction and essays. In 1960, she emigrated to Brazil for two years where she wrote a nonfiction story called Brazil and My Friend Luizinho based on her experience at that time. Her first successful children’s book, Ôdorabô Bula Bula shi (The Robber Bla-Bla), was published in 1981. In 1985, she published Majo no Takkyūbin (Kiki’s Delivery Service), which was later adapted into the Hayao Miyazaki animated film with the same title. The book was awarded the Noma Children’s Literature Award, the Shogakukan Children’s Publication Culture Award, and the IBBY Honor List.