Brand new stage show marks 30th Anniversary of children’s classic

27th April 2011

A brand new production of Michelle Magorian’s much loved classic Goodnight Mister Tom comes to the New Theatre, Cardiff from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 May. Marking the 30th Anniversary of the novel, this uplifting and heart-warming story is brought gloriously to life by the ‘National Children’s Dramatist’ (The Times) David Wood.

Set during the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows the sad William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley, played by Oliver Ford Davies. 

All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London. A tale of two broken souls at very different ends of the age scale, Goodnight Mister Tom celebrates the value of love and proves that friendship knows no barriers.

Oliver Ford Davies is a much respected and admired stage actor, having played many of theatre’s key supporting roles over the last three plus decades. Film audiences, however, will know him best for his role as Sio Bibble in the three Star Wars prequels: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He was also recently seen on stage and on TV as Polonius in the RSC’s production of Hamlet alongside David Tennant in the title role, for which he won an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Performance in a Supporting Role.

First published in the UK in 1981, Goodnight Mister Tom is an enduring classic for both children and adults alike and has sold in excess of 1.2 million copies in the UK alone. As well as being a world-wide favourite, the BAFTA award-winning TV film of the book starring John Thaw attracted 14 million viewers making it one of the best loved stories of its generation. The book has won many awards including The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in 1981, was commended for the Carnegie Medal and in 2005 was voted amongst the top 100 books in the BBC’s Big Read.

Goodnight Mister Tom is at the New Theatre, Cardiff from Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 May. Suggested age 8+. Tickets range from £8.00 - £22.00 and can booked* via the Box Office on 029 2087 8889 or online at www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk.

* all tickets subject to a 50p Seating Improvement Contribution and online sales carry a small transaction charge

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