Otaku News: Kiki's Delivery Service gets a New Theatrical Adaptation in London Over Christmas 2016

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Kiki's Delivery Service gets a New Theatrical Adaptation in London Over Christmas 2016

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Date: 2016 August 17 15:28

Posted by Joe

Fans of Japanese Culture looking for something to do over Christmas will want to to head to the Southwark Playhouse in London. They'll be hosting the world premiere of a brand new theatrical adaptation of Kiki's Delivery Service. The play is based on the best selling book by Eiko Kadono, and was adapted into a much loved film by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.

The play is set to run from Thursday 8th December 2016 until Sunday 8th January 2017.

The Southwark Playhouse have previously hosted a production of Howl's Moving Castle in 2012.

They've yet to announce any casting or creative details. We'll be very curious as to who they cast for Jiji, if it'll be a human or some kind of stage craft puppetry.

This is all we can reveal at this stage, and we're keen to book tickets already! As always when tickets are release, we suggest you book early to avoid any disappointment.

Full Story

Press release as follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southwark Playhouse

77-85 Newington Causeway
London SE1 6BD

Kiki's Delivery Service at the Southwark Playhouse

Southwark Playhouse announce the world premiere of a brand new theatrical adaptation of Eiko Kadono’s bestselling, awardwinning book KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE for Christmas 2016

Southwark Playhouse presents the world premiere of
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE
Based on the book by Eiko Kadono.
Adapted for the stage by Jessica Siân. Directed by Kate Hewitt.

Run: Thursday 8 December 2016 – Sunday 8 January 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.

**** ‘A gorgeous production.’ Time Out Critics’ Choice on Usagi Yojimbo (2014)
‘Southwark Playhouse’s heroically ambitious Christmas show' Time Out Critics’ Choice on Howl’s Moving Castle (2012)

**** ‘Startlingly imaginative’ Metro on Howl’s Moving Castle (2012)
**** ‘High on lively, crystal-clear story telling... quirky and hauntingly beautiful’ The Telegraph on Anansi: An African Fairly Tale (2010)

‘Southwark Playhouse’s brand is as quirky as it is classy... resonance as well as simplicity and humour to satisfy both adults and children’ The Stage on Anansi: An African Fairly Tale (2010)

Casting and further creative details are to be announced.

Playwright Jessica Siân is a South-African born playwright and actor based in London. Her first fulllength play Klippies ran at Southwark Playhouse in 2015. Jessica has acted at the Bush Theatre, Latitude Festival, Southwark Playhouse and Theatre503. She trained on the Royal Court Young Writers program. 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 (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). She directed Tomcat at Southwark Playhouse in 2015. She trained as a performer with the National Youth Theatre and at Goldsmiths and LISPA. She was the recipient of a Jerwood Assistant Director Award (2012) and the JMK Directors Award (2014).
Directing credits include Far Away (Young Vic) and Portrait(Edinburgh Festival and subsequent UK tour).She has just finished working with the National Youth Theatre on their Epic Stages Project. As Associate Director, Medea (Headlong), Electra (Gate Theatre and Latitude Festival).
As Assistant Director, Wild Swans (Young Vic and ART Boston), Clybourne Park (Royal Court and Wyndham’s), Through a Glass Darkly (Almeida) and Breathing Irregular (Gate Theatre). Kate is the co-founder and co-creator with You Need Me, an international theatre company whose credits include How it Ended (Arcola and Edinburgh Festival) and Certain Dark Things (Tobacco Factory, Bristol and Edinburgh Festival).

Author of Kiki’s Delivery Service 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. Most of her works are books for children. Her first successful children's book published 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.

Source: Southwark Playhouse

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Kiki's Delivery Service gets a New Theatrical Adaptation in London Over Christmas 2016

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