Full cast announced for UK tour of MALORY TOWERS
The Emma Rice Company has announced the full cast for their upcoming tour of Malory Towers from the novels by Enid Blyton and adapted by Emma Rice.
Rice directs Eden Barrie (Grease, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Mary Lou Atkinson, Molly Cheesley (NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, UK tour) as Alicia Johns, Rebecca Collingwood (The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre) as Gwendolyn Lacey, Stephanie Hockley (Miracle on 34th Street, HOME Manchester) as Irene DuPont, Emily Panes (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, West End) as Musician, Robyn Sinclair (The Grapes of Wrath, National Theatre) as Darrell Rivers, Bethany Wooding (The Crucible, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Sally Hope, and Zoe West (Wildfire Road, Sheffield Theatres) as Bill Robinson, in this co-production with Alexandra Palace Theatre, Belgrade Theatre, HOME Manchester and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.
The production begins performances at Theatre Royal Bath on 1 May, before embarking on a UK tour to Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Guildford, before completing its run at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London.
Darrell Rivers is starting school with an eager mind and fierce heart. Unfortunately she also has a quick temper! Can she learn to tolerate the infuriating Gwendoline Lacey, or value the kind-hearted Sally Hope? Can she save the school play and rescue terrified Mary Lou from the grip of a raging storm? If she can do these things anywhere, she will do them at Malory Towers!
Nostalgic, naughty, and perfect for now, Malory Towers is the original ‘Girl Power’ story. This is a show for girls, boys and all grown-up children who still dream of midnight feasts and Cornish clifftops.
Emma Rice said: “Malory Towers is an enduring passion for me! Inspired by my Gran, Mum and all the magnificent women of the wartime generations, I have loved bringing these intoxicating characters and tales up to date with love, song and laughter. However, like the school itself, this sparkling production needs to be filled with new personalities. This new tour is no different! The class of 2026 is filled with fresh, fierce and joyful talent - and I cannot wait to see what they bring to Miss Grayling, Malory Towers and me. Here’s to ‘Good strong women that the world can lean on’. My, in these terrifying and divided times we need that more than ever, don’t we?”
The production features set and costume design by Lez Brotherston, composition by Ian Ross, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound and video design by Simon Baker, and choreography by Alistair David.