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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Emma Gill

Disney's Winnie the Pooh musical is coming to Manchester Opera House

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh musical is coming to the UK stage for the first time and will be stopping off at Manchester Opera House.

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with life-size puppetry, 'exciting' new stories and featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations.

A.A. Milne’s beloved characters, Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger Too, will all arrive on stage in what promises to be 'a beautifully-crafted' musical stage adaptation.

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Following its success in New York in 2021, where it broke theatre box office records for the largest advance, the UK premiere will be presented by Rockefeller Productions, in partnership with ROYO, and in association with Disney Theatrical Productions.

(Winnie the Pooh musical)

It's been developed and presented by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller, known for his 'spectacular puppetry' in the acclaimed productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Paddington Gets in a Jam.

It opens in spring 2023, with preview performances at London’s Riverside Studios from March 17 before an official opening on March 26.

The Manchester audience will have to wait a little longer as the UK and Ireland tour comes to the Opera House from July 24 to 26.

The role of Winnie the Pooh will be played by Jake Bazel, who originated the role on Broadway.

Jake is a puppeteer, voice actor, writer and coach whose credits include the likes of Sesame Street (HBO/PBS), The 90th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Disney’s Muppets (Disney/NBC), The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets in a Jam, and Paddington Saves Christmas.

(Winnie the Pooh musical)

Accompanying the modern narrative is an original score by Nate Edmondson, featuring some of the Grammy award-winning songs written by the Sherman Brothers for the original animated features, including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers and Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce, plus A.A. Milne’s The More It Snows (featuring music by Carly Simon) and Sing Ho in a new arrangement.

The show is recommended for ages three and above. Tickets, costing from £17.50, can be booked online. Later on in the run, the show will be in Blackpool at the Grand Theatre, from August 14 to 16. Visit the website here to book.

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