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James and the Giant Peach

"...a great introduction for first-timers to the work of the masterful Dahl...a theatrical treat for children and adults alike."

Belfast Newsletter

"The David Wood adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic tale is a must...the story's transition onto the stage is stunning...a wonderful piece of imaginative theatre for youngsters and the young at heart."

Northampton Herald and Post

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Adaptations (Literature), Comedy

  • Time Period: Present Day
  • Target Audience: Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Children (Age 6 - 10), Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Youth/Camp Programs
The story of Roald Dahl's classic tale is faithfully told by James himself and the insect characters - Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm. The play begins at the end of the story, when James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York.

A tour guide brings a party of tourists (the audience) to see this major attraction, and James and his friends tell the story of how they came to live in New York. The insects play the other roles, like James's cruel Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, and the epic journey across the Atlantic is acted out with live action, puppetry and storytelling.
REVIEWS:

"Pure fun for the whole family. A remarkable theatrical feat!"

Northampton Chornicle

"Move heaven and Earth to see this wonderful adaptation!"

Sunday Mercury

"A first class show. If I were a child I'd scream for a ticket."

Birmingham Post

"...a great introduction for first-timers to the work of the masterful Dahl... a theatrical treat for children and adults alike."

Belfast Newsletter

"The David Wood adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic tale is a must... the story's transition theatre for youngsters and the young at heart."

Northampton Herald and Post

"The content is timeless and, thanks to the adaptive genius of David Wood, is now enabling a new generation of children, of all ages, the chance to marvel at the brilliance of the master storyteller via the magic of the theatre."

Encore Magazine

"...some wonderful sequences, including the giant peach squashing the nasty aunts, floating in the water and being attacked by sharks and pulled out of the water by thousands of seagulls... it was a delight to see James and his new friends end up in New York where they made their home... a fantastic show."

The West Briton

"...an excellent adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic by David Wood... an excellent introduction to live theatre."

The Stage

Premiere Production: James and the Giant Peach was a joint commission by the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and the Birmingham Stage Company, for the 2001-2002 Christmas season. The Birmingham production opened at the Old Rep., and then toured the UK. The US premiere was presented by the San Diego Junior Theatre in 2003.

Characters

  • Casting: 4M, 2F
  • Casting Attributes: Reduced casting (Doubling Possible), Expandable casting
  • Casting Notes: Plus children's chorus to plays tourists, visitors, sharks, seagulls, fish, octopus, and New York citizens.

  • JAMES - our young hero; from a downtrodden, lonely child, he develops into a brave "captain" of the insect band; he acts as narrator too.

  • OLD-GREEN-GRASSHOPPER - elderly, genial, courteous, avuncular, musical (he plays the violin); he helps narrate. Also plays TV REPORTER.

  • MISS SPIDER - occasionally sharp, even a little sinister, but ultimately kind; her marathon-thread spinning to save the peach is truly heroic. Also plays NEW YORK TOUR GUIDE, RHINOCEROS, FIRST OFFICER.

  • CENTIPEDE - a sparky, cocky, warm-hearted Jack-the-lad. Also plays MR. TROTTER, AUNT SPIKER, CAPTAIN OF THE QUEEN MARY.

  • LADYBIRD - posh though not prissy, pretty though not vain, volatile though level-headed. Also plays MRS. TROTTER, AUNT SPONGE, SECOND OFFICER.

  • EARTHWORM - not only blind, but a pessimist, a doom merchant whose standing in the group and whose self-esteem improves, thanks to James. Also plays RHINOCEROS, OLD MAN.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    James and the Giant Peach Script Order Now

    The story of Roald Dahl's classic tale is faithfully told by James himself and the insect characters - Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm. The play begins at the end of the story, when James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York.

    A tour guide brings a party of tourists (the audience) the see this major attraction, and James and his friends tell the story of how they came to live in New York. The insects play the other roles, like Jame's cruel Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, and the epic journey across the Atlantic is acted out with live action, puppetry and storytelling.


    "...a great introduction for first-timers to the work of the masterful Dahl... a theatrical treat for children and adults alike." - Belfast Newsletter

    "The David Wood adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic tale is a must... the story's transition onto the stage is stunning... a wonderful piece of imaginative theatre for youngsters and the young at heart." - Northampton Herald and Post

    A joint commission by the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and the Birmingham Stage Company, for the 2001/2 Christmas season. The Birmingham production opened at the Old Rep, and then toured the UK. The US premiere was presented by the San Diego Junior Theatre in 2003.

    		$24.95

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