Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Old Vic and The Wardrobe Ensemble present the WORLD PREMIERE of Judith Kerr’s Mog The Forgetful Cat Adapted by The Wardrobe Ensemble
- Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Old Vic and The Wardrobe Ensemble bring Judith Kerr’s beloved stories to the stage for the first time.
- The world premiere production will open at Royal & Derngate Northampton (Friday 3 to Sunday 19 June) as part of its Made in Northampton 2022 season, before touring the UK in 2023.
Royal & Derngate’s Resident Ensemble Company the acclaimed Wardrobe Ensemble adapt Judith Kerr’s beloved and iconic stories in a first-ever stage adaptation of Mog The Forgetful Cat. The show is a collaboration between co-producers Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Old Vic and The Wardrobe Ensemble.
Royal & Derngate Artistic Director James Dacre said “These magical stories, from one of the country’s greatest writers for younger audiences, have delighted generations of children. We’re thrilled to be welcoming back The Wardrobe Ensemble and to be partnering with The Old Vic for the first time to reimagine them for the stage.”
‘Bother that cat!’
Mog always seems to be in trouble. She forgets that she has a cat flap and she forgets that she has already eaten her supper. But sometimes, Mog’s forgetfulness comes in very handy…
Join Mog, and her people the Thomas family, on a journey through one year in the life of a really remarkable cat, as she catches a burglar, gate crashes a cat show, goes to the vee-eee-tee and eats lots and lots of eggs.
Helena Middleton of The Wardrobe Ensemble said ‘I absolutely loved the Mog books growing up. We used to have a book fair at my school and I would literally race there to make sure I was the first to get my hands on a copy. I am so delighted to be part of the team which will bring Mog to the stage and honour Judith Kerr’s gorgeous stories and illustrations.’
The Wardrobe Ensemble (whose The Stage Award-winning Education, Education, Education transferred from Royal & Derngate to the West End) adapt Judith Kerr’s beloved and iconic stories for the stage, in a lively and enchanting production directed by Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton (Pippi Longstocking, Royal & Derngate), with songs, live music and a menagerie of creatures little and large. These timeless tales of family and friendship are brought to life to allow a new generation of children to fall in love with Mog.
Suitable for ages 3+.
The Made in Northampton season is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.
Based on the bestselling Mog picture book series by Judith Kerr, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Listings information
Royal & Derngate Northampton
Friday 3 to Sunday 19 June 2022
Press Night: Wednesday 8 June 7pm
Fri 3 June 4.30pm
Sat 4 June 10.30am
Tue 7 June 10.30am
Wed 8 June 1.30pm & 7pm (press night)
Thu 9 June 2pm & 4.30pm
Fri 10 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 11 June 2pm & 4.30pm
Sun 12 June 2pm & 4.30pm
Tue 14 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Wed 15 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Thu 16 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Fri 17 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 18 June 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sun 19 June 2pm & 4.30pm
Tickets:
£14.50*
Schools £10.50 per tickets plus one free for every 10 tickets
Box Office: 01604 624811
* A charge of £3.50 applies for all transactions of £20 and over. Does not apply to Groups, Members or Disabled Patrons, and is per-transaction, not per-ticket.
Creative Team:
Directors: Jesse Jones & Helena Middleton
Composer & Musical Director: Joey Hickman
Designer: Laura McEwen
Sound Designer: Beth Duke
Lighting Designer: Rajiv Pattani
Company:
Tom England
Joey Hickman
Hanora Kamen
Kerry Lovell
Jesse Meadows
Robyn Sinclair
Ben Vardy
Judith Kerr
Judith Kerr was born in Berlin, but her family came to England from Germany in 1933 to escape the rise of the Nazi party. She studied at the Central School of Art and later worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.
Judith married the celebrated screenwriter Nigel Kneale in 1954. She left the BBC to look after her two children, who inspired her first picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea. First published in 1968, it has sold many millions of copies throughout the world and has become a beloved classic.
Her other works include Mog the Forgetful Cat and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. In 2012 Judith was awarded an OBE for her services to children’s literature and holocaust education, and in 2019 she was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards. Judith died in May 2019. Her much-loved stories have delighted generations of children.