CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR POLKA THEATRE’S SUMMER MUSICAL ‘ARTHUR’

Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint CEO Helen Matravers, Executive Director and Joint CEO Lynette Shanbury, and the whole team at the Wimbledon venue are pleased to announce the casting for Polka Theatre’s newest co-production, Arthur.

The world premiere of Arthur, recommended for ages 6-12 years, will headline this Summer on Polka’s newly named main stage, the Y C Chan Theatre, in a co-production between Polka Theatre and The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath.

Overlooked and wanting to be taken seriously, Grace encounters the mysterious Merlin who transports her back to the 6th century. As Grace and Arthur’s two worlds collide, their fates entwine, and together they must embark on the greatest quest they’ll ever face, to retrieve Excalibur. With the future of Britain depending on them, they must overcome a fearsome beast and navigate the perils of the ancient forest – if only they can figure out how to work together….

This Summer, join the adventure in a magical new play with original songs, based on Arthurian legend and the quest for a better world.

With original music and score, Arthur is created by Bucket Club (Catch That Beast!, UK Tour), written by Marietta Kirkbride (Our Church; Wizard of Oz, Watermill Theatre) and directed by Nel Crouch (The Tempest, Shakespeare North), with the creative team completed by Set and Costume Designer Rebecca Jane Wood, Lighting Designer Jonathan Chan (The Firework Maker’s Daughter, Polka Theatre), Sound Designer Owen Crouch (The Children’s Inquiry, Southwark Playhouse), and Composer and Musical Director Harry Blake (The Tempest Reimagined, Regent’s Park).

The cast of Arthur are Gurjot Dhaliwal (SheWolves, Edinburgh & Southwark Playhouse) as ‘Grace’, Giles Carden (School of Rock, West End) as ‘Arthur’, Rose Wardlaw (As You Like It, RSC) as ‘Merlin’, Adam Mirsky (Macbeth, Tobacco Factory) as ‘Lancelot’, and Megan Vaughan-Thomas (Boxville, Bristol Old Vic/Little Angel Theatre) as ‘Gawain/Vivian’.

Polka’s Artistic Director Helen Matravers said, “I am so delighted that Polka’s first ever collaboration with Bucket Club and The Egg has such an incredible team of talented and inspiring creatives and performers behind it. This hilarious and action-packed family tale will leap off the stage in the hands of these artists and magicians – creating exceptional, inspiring and incredibly playful theatre for audiences across London and the West Country! It will be a playful treat for Polka this Summer, and a magical journey for the festive period at The Egg, we can’t wait to send Arthur and Grace on their adventures UK-wide.”

The Summer show in the Adventure Theatre running alongside Arthur is There’s a Tiger in the Garden, a theatrical adaptation of Lizzy Stewart’s award-winning book. Using puppetry, and the power of imagination, audiences are invited to join Nora as she discovers dragonflies as big as her head, plants that can eat you whole, a polar bear that likes fishing and maybe, just possibly, a tiger in the garden. Aimed at ages 3 – 7 years, There’s a Tiger in the Garden runs from 8 July – 9 August, complimented by Little Garden Explorers, a show-themed workshop for ages 0-4 on 7 August – journey through Polka’s Garden in a storytelling workshop inspired by There’s a Tiger in the Garden

The season is presented alongside a wide range of Creative Learning classes, workshops and activities at the venue. Children of all ages can enjoy weekly classes, one off workshops, drop-in and school holiday activities in a creative, fun and supportive space.

Polka opened its doors in 1979, the UK’s first theatre venue dedicated exclusively to children. Polka Theatre is one of just a handful of dedicated children’s venues in the UK, presenting a year-round programme of shows produced by Polka and from visiting companies. Polka also offers a full programme of Creative Learning activities for ages 0–12, with over 21,000 children taking part in the last year. Polka enjoys flexible rehearsal and workshop spaces along with two performance spaces: the Y C Chan Theatre has a 300-seat capacity, and the Adventure Theatre can seat up to 90 depending on the show format.

Over the past year, Polka has worked with 143 schools through Creative Learning projects and has distributed over 9,000 free tickets to schools through their Curtain Up! scheme.

Polka is a community hub and vital resource, open 6 days per week, 50 weeks per year at a challenging time to be a sustainable public venue with step-free access, free-to-access play spaces and a cosy and welcoming café and shop.