DOCTOR DOLITTLE THE MUSICAL to support animal charity WWF on its UK&I Tour

The producers of the UK & Ireland Tour of Leslie Bricusse’s much loved musical Doctor Dolittle, which opens at the Churchill Theatre Bromley on 9 November, with a national press night at the New Theatre Oxford on 17 January 2019, are delighted to announce their support of WWF.

Eccentric Doctor Dolittle embarks on an extraordinary adventure to find the Giant Pink Sea Snail that holds the secret of life and makes the world a happier place. Helped by his human companions and an exotic menagerie of animal friends, including the Pushmi-Pullyu and trusty sidekick Polynesia the parrot, the larger-than-life Doctor Dolittle teaches us not only to talk to the animals but to listen to them as well!

As audiences join the Doctor in learning how humans and animals can live together in harmony, the musical will be helping raise funds for one of the world’s largest conservation organisations, WWF.

Through supporting the work of WWF, the musical hopes to inspire and educate audiences on the actions they can take to help fight for our world. Whilst the elusive giant pink sea snail is a creature of fiction, there are many species today which are becoming a rarer sight to see. Sadly, over the past 50 years, there have been huge losses in wildlife in the UK and abroad. Numbers of iconic species have dropped – from the skylark and water vole in the UK, to polar bears and snow leopards around the world.

The show’s producer, John Stalker, commented: “Choosing to support the work of WWF through our bucket collections and in theatre fundraising events was a clear choice. The show highlights the need to create a world that lives in harmony with nature and it’s a great opportunity to inspire audiences across the UK and Ireland to take action.”

This new production of Doctor Dolittle, with book, music and lyrics by double Academy Award-winner Leslie Bricusse, will be part of the 50thanniversary celebrations of the original film starring Rex Harrison and will feature the same songs, including the Academy Award-winning Talk To The Animals. Featuring stunning visual puppetry, this new production, with the book reworked by Leslie Bricusse, will be directed by Christopher Renshaw.

The cast is led by Mark Williams in the eponymous role, along with Brian Capron as Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Vicky Entwistle as Polynesia, ,Adèle Anderson as Lady Bellowes/Poison Arrow, Mollie Melia-Redgrave as Emma Fairfax and Patrick Sullivan as Matthew Mugg. Mark Williams and Brian Capron will play the first ten venues on the tour, and Adèle Anderson the first six. Vicky Entwistle, Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan will play the entire tour.

Also in the cast will be Femi Akinfolarin, Erica Jayne Alden, Lydia Bannister, Joel Bayliss, Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Jane Crawshaw, Emily Essery, Jacob Fisher, George Hankers, Catherine Hannay, Evan James, Leon Kay, Emma Lloyd, Owen McHugh, Ross Meagrow, Tom Norman, Emily Ann Potter, Ellie Seaton and Richard Vorster. The role of Tommy Stubbins will be shared by Harry Cross, Elliot Morris, Quillan O’Meara McDonald, Louis Parker, Elliott Rose and Thomas Ryan.

The new stage production of Doctor Dolittle will be directed by Christopher Renshaw, with choreography by Josh Rhodes, design by Tom Piper, puppet design by Nick Barnes, puppet direction by Jimmy Grimes, lighting by Chris Davey, sound by Ben Harrison, and musical supervision by Mike Dixon.

9 – 24 November 2018 Churchill Theatre Bromley*+
11 December – 5 January 2019 The Lowry Salford*+
15 – 26 January Oxford New Theatre*+
29 January – 9 February Wolverhampton Grand Theatre*+
12 – 23 February Newcastle Theatre Royal*+
26 February – 9 March Hull New Theatre*+
12 – 23 March His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen*
26 March – 6 April Royal & Derngate Northampton*
9 – 20 April Nottingham Theatre Royal*
23 April – 4 May Sheffield Lyceum Theatre*
14 – 25 May Festival Theatre Edinburgh
28 May – 8 June Alhambra Theatre Bradford
11 – 22 June Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin
25 June – 6 July Millennium Forum, Derry
9 – 20 July The Marlowe, Canterbury
23 July – 3 August Glasgow King’s Theatre
6 – 17 August Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
20 – 31 August Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
3 – 14 September Blackpool Winter Gardens
17 – 28 September New Wimbledon Theatre, London
8 – 19 October Milton Keynes Theatre
22 October – 2 November Birmingham Hippodrome