David Walliams book Gangsta Granny is coming to the West End this July
Birmingham Stage Company presents Gangsta Granny by David Walliams. CAST Gilly Tompkins - Granny Ashley Cousins - Ben Laura Girling - Mum Ben Martin - Dad Umar Malik - Raj Alison Fitzjohn - Matron Richard James - Doctor Louise Bailey - Queen & Female Undestudy Aaron Thiara - Male Understudy CREATIVE TEAM Adapter and Director - Neal Foster Designer - Jackie Trousdale Lighting Designer - Jason Taylor Composer - Jak Poore Sound Designer - Nick Sagar Choreographers - Paul Chantry & Rae Piper of Chantry Dance Company Production Manager - Adrian Littlejohns
David Walliams best-selling children’s book Gangsta Granny is coming to the West End this July for a six-week summer season. And on 28 July there will be a special gala performance with an auction and exclusive after show party with the cast* to raise money for Age UK Camden’s NW3 Good Neighbours Scheme.
The show is adapted and directed by Camden resident Neal Foster, who took inspiration from his experience volunteering with the Good Neighbours Scheme, which matches trained volunteers with isolated housebound older people. Neal visited Rose every week for six years until she died aged 103 and it changed both their lives. He continues to volunteer and is now visiting Joy who is 87. Neal has now decided to donate the entire proceeds of the gala performance of Gangsta Granny to support his local Good Neighbours Scheme. With a full audience the show could raise £25,000.
He said: “I never knew my grandparents, so I’ve always been drawn to old people. When my mother died in her 70s of depression, I thought I can’t help her anymore, but I can help someone else her age and that’s just as good. It’s wonderful to realise how important you can become to someone and how much effect you can have on their lives with just one visit a week. It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”
