World premiere of THE BOOK THIEF announces creative team

The musical adaptation of The Book Thief, premiering at the Octagon Theatre Bolton from 17 September-15 October, has announced its full creative team.

This beloved book is brought to life with a script by award winning author Jodi Picoult (My Sister’s Keeper and Small Great Things) and Timothy Allen McDonald (adaptor of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and James and the Giant Peach), and the music and  lyrics are by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, Walt Disney Animation Studios; Central Park, Apple TV+).

Adapted from Markus Zusak’s worldwide best-selling novel,  this hauntingly beautiful tale set in 1930s Nazi-Germany follows courageous young orphan Liesel  as she enters a dangerous game of book thievery. 

Co-writer Jodi Picoult said: “The Book Thief, as a novel, is a blockbuster that has sold over  20 million copies and deeply moved readers all over the world. Having the chance to bring it to  life three-dimensionally in a world premiere musical at the Octagon is a dream for us!  

“The story of a foster child in Nazi Germany — who learns the power words have to both hurt and  to heal — feels painfully relevant today. We hope that Liesel’s journey will inspire audiences to  take a stand in the face of adversity, and to be agents of change in an increasingly divided  world.”

Octagon Artistic Director and director of The Book Thief, Lotte Wakeham added: “I am absolutely thrilled to be opening our new season with this world premiere brand new musical adaptation of  one of my all-time favourite books. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been busy workshopping the show and I cannot wait for audiences to finally see it! It’s an incredibly relevant, moving  story and I’m so happy to be staging it in Bolton in our wonderful, newly refurbished theatre. 

“I am delighted that we can now announce the brilliant creative team who will be working with  me on the production – they are all incredibly talented individuals who have already brought so  many fantastic and imaginative ideas to the process. I’m confident that we’re going to create a  beautiful and timeless piece of musical theatre.”

The production will be directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham and choreographed by  Tom Jackson Greaves, with musical  direction and orchestrations by Matthew Malone and design from Good Teeth aka James Perkins and Victoria Smart.

The  production will also feature lighting by Nic Farman, puppet design by Samuel Wilde, sound by Andy Graham, and casting by Jacob Sparrow.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.