Running Wild Tour (2017)
10 February – 10 June
By Michael Morpurgo
In an adaptation by Samuel Adamson
Originally produced by Regent’s Park Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre
Our 2016 production of Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild embarked on its first UK tour with Children’s Touring Partnership, from February through to June 2017.
For Will, going to Indonesia isn’t just another holiday with mum. It’s a new start, and the chance to ride an elephant called Oona.
But then the tsunami hit – and Oona charges into the jungle, with her young rider desperately clinging on.
This ‘brilliant, life affirming show’ (Radio Times), delighted audiences with imaginative puppetry and energetic staging. The tour launched at Chichester Festival Theatre, before visiting Coventry, Sheffield, High Wycombe, London, Blackpool, Leeds, Salford, Norwich, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Plymouth, Northampton, Canterbury and Wolverhampton.
The cast
Elisa de Grey
Oona (Trunk)
![Elisa de Grey in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/0f85c9c43a7884e8abd84a481e6d098cf6d61452_f00053720-0113.jpg?auto=compress,format)
James Charlton
Oona (Head)
![James Charlton in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/839b75a63acf634de90421611e2bee4d4b251017_james.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Michael Peters
Oona (Heart)
![Michael Peters in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/a36388718510278fa3edc93cd2b88303ddd321cd_michael.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Wela Mbusi
Oona (Hind)
![Wela Mbusi in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/9c6983e313a7d47bf412090657057088acbf8b37_wela.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Romina Hytten
Mani (Head)
![Romina Hytten in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/b92ba0418bf6e2d285168ed48fa9df33c4017fb9_romina-hytten.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Fred Davis
Mani (Body)
![Fred Davis in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/7e879194f9ab027cc459288faeabe628b4564779_fred-davis.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Darcy Collins
Frank
![Darcy Collins in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/5a919808f2ce5cb81c3f47cbdfffb4d9b44fe582_darcy.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Gareth Aled
Alternate Puppeteer
![Gareth Aled in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/b878d3c99b4f966d27d594a9a270997bd3908e1c_gareth.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Scarlet Wilderink
Alternate Puppeteer
![Scarlet Wilderink in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/f251202130da49b486603f4f0295a60d741ee6be_scarlet.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Kazeem Toisin Amore
Dad/Red Bandana
![Kazeem Toisin Amore in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/72a8990f30eaaea20cf020333f488cd5e34505dd_kazeem.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Liz Crowther
Grandma
![Liz Crowther in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/93afb9ba6079c9ed04b86a63d0116ef2f8b59d18_liz-crowther.-photo-johan-persson..jpg?auto=compress,format)
Stephen Hoo
Mahout/Kaya/Nurse
![Stephen Hoo in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/5629d162b4edad164cd862f8581a7ae3e2708b54_stephen.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Corinna Powlesland
Dr Geraldine
![Corinna Powlesland in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/bd6c6ede7d4b9c7238a4f51e0be86f223ee2f598_corinna-powlesland-9.08.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jack Sandle
Mr Anthony
![Jack Sandle in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/3b65fca108576edc33e2ddb96420c85af78f5315_jack.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Balvinder Sopal
Mum/Samaritan
![Balvinder Sopal in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/a99bf496aa1fa794c25d1fa7c204d9de007affa9_balvinder.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jemima Bennett
Lilly
India Brown
Lilly
Annika Whiston
Lilly
Creative team
Timothy Sheader
Director
![Timothy Sheader in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/eba279e9d811bff0bd0e49b9a927018c3b4ff7ab_timothy-sheader-2.-photo-david-jensen.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Dale Rooks
Director
![Dale Rooks in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/f741a63c126ee4e4a14a42718f255f41dd1cc8b9_dale-rooks.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Paul Wills
Set & Costume Designer
![Paul Wills in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/29a4806b979a7b8888fd8b6140b49950c5682748_paul-wills.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Rod Paton
Original Songs & Composition
![Rod Paton in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/cf803c6028669cbed971f7730a408a261325a470_dr-rod-paton.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Nick Powell
Sound Score
![Nick Powell in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/f836c668ec2adce21fe24ebdc13e8bc8e65818e1_nick-powell.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Georgina Lamb
Movement Director
![Georgina Lamb in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/ee35ce53405ddf17c5eccba6e163e45a2a81a6b2_georgina-lamb.jpg?auto=compress,format)
James Whiteside
Lighting Designer
![James Whiteside in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Nick Sagar
Sound Designer
![Nick Sagar in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Finn Caldwell & Toby Olié for Gyre & Gimble
Puppetry Designers & Directors
![Finn Caldwell & Toby Olié for Gyre & Gimble in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jon Pashley
Associate Director
![Jon Pashley in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Laura Cubitt
Associate Puppet Director
![Laura Cubitt in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/e687fa28ce9d24d6e2791817535ffcd2ec16f091_laura-cubitt.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Nick Powell & Louise Anna Duggan
Additional Music
![Nick Powell & Louise Anna Duggan in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Barbara Houseman
Voice & Text
![Barbara Houseman in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/68f6f4d72e0264391aedcbec42ba91adb573651e_charles-aitken-barbara-houseman-and-simon-wilson.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Majella Hurley
Dialect Coach
![Majella Hurley in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Polly Jerrold
Casting Director
![Polly Jerrold in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Jessica Ronane CDG
Original Casting Director for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
![Jessica Ronane CDG in Running Wild Tour (2017)](https://images.prismic.io/open-air-theatre/915646d4bf9f33a73f0403d8b484e0e9eaa53221_oat-for-heritage.jpg?auto=compress,format)
Reviews
Daily Telegraph
“A WINNER. The puppetry is exquisite, with full-sized animals manipulated so they seem to breathe with documentary life.”
The Times
"A role-swapping, puppet-wielding cast…team together to offer vivid suggestions of both the danger and beauty of this tropical wilderness…REMARKABLE by its INVENTIVE, EVOCATIVE STAGING."