The Lovely Bones, the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, has been adapted for stage and will premiere in Northampton this year.
The book has been adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery and directed by Melly Still, and will open at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 1st September 2018, where it will run until 22nd September.
It will then transfer to partner theatres Everyman Liverpool (25th September to 6th October), Northern Stage in Newcastle (9th to 20th October) and Birmingham Repertory Theatre (30th October to 10th November).
The show will also visit The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, running from 13th to 17th November.
The Lovely Bones: A coming-of-age tale
Alice Sebold’s story is described as ‘an uplifting story about life after loss’. The Lovely Bones tells the story of young girl Susie Salmon, who is just like any other girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a crush on a boy from school. There’s one big difference though – Susie is dead.
Audiences will watch as Susie observes her family cope with their grief in their different ways. Her father, Jack is obsessed with identifying the killer. Her mother, Abigail is desperate to create a brighter future. And her sister, Lindsay is discovering boys with experiences that Susie will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of reaching them.
The novel achieved critical acclaim and became a bestseller across the world. It won the Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Fiction 2003 and was on Oprah’s Book Club list for 2010.
Alice Sebold expressed her excitement to “see The Lovely Bones as a play and to see its characters come to life on stage” whilst Bryony Lavery spoke of her passion for this “rich, funny, tough, healing book” saying that “I've found that the huge story is very, very happy to change its medium and reveal its treasures on the stages at five of the UK’s leading theatres. I am a most fortunate playwright!"
Group travel organisers should contact their chosen venue for information on group rates.
For further information visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.
