Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson (Brighton Rock), the new adaptation will premiere at Derby Theatre from the 1-16 February 2019 and will then embark on a national tour until the 11 May.
Noughts & Crosses will be the first co-production between Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre, Colchester and York Theatre Royal who have recently formed a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences.
Told from the perspectives of the two teenagers, Noughts & Crosses is a captivating love story set in a volatile, racially segregated society and explores the powerful themes of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world.
Sabrina Mahfouz’s new adaptation is based on Malorie Blackman’s first book in the Noughts & Crosses series for young adults, which has won the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Fantastic Fiction Award among other accolades. A BBC adaptation ofNoughts & Crosses is due to be screened in 2019.
Noughts & Crosses’ exciting young cast will be led by Heather Agyepong and Billy Harris playing the roles of Sephy and Callum. Heather Agyepong’s theatre credits include Girls (Talawa Theatre, High Tide & Martha Rose Wilson Prod.); So Many Reasons (Fuel Theatre & Ovalhouse Theatre) and Sankara (Next Up Talent; National Theatre Studio). Heather is an acclaimed visual artist, actor and maker. Earlier this year she was nominated for the 2018 South Bank Sky Arts Breakthrough Award. Billy Harris’ theatre credits include Boots On The Ground (Tangled Feet) and 13 (Tobacco Factory Theatre). Further casting will be announced soon.
Malorie Blackman has written over 60 books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series, Thief and most recently her science fiction thriller Chasing the Stars. Her work has also been adapted for TV with the 6-part adaptation of Pig-Heart Boy winning a BAFTA and Noughts and Crosses currently in production for the BBC. In 2005, Malorie was honoured the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children’s books, in 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children’s literature and, between 2013 and 2015, she was the Children’s Laureate. Malorie is currently writing for the new Doctor Who series on BBC One and the fifth novel in her Noughts & Crosses sequence, Crossfire, will be published by Penguin Random House Children’s in summer 2019.
TOUR
19-23 February – Theatre Clwyd (tickets on sale soon)
Box Office: 01325 701521 // https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/
26 February-2 March –The Lowry, Salford
Box Office: 0843 208 6000 https://www.thelowry.com/events/noughts-crosses
5- 9 March -Mercury Theatre Colchester (tickets on sale soon)
Box Office: 01206 573948 // https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/
12 – 16 March – Bristol Old Vic (tickets on sale soon)
Box Office: 0117 9877877 https://bristololdvic.org.uk/
19-23 March – Brighton Theatre Royal
Box Office: 08448717650 // https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/noughts-and-crosses/theatre-royal-brighton/
26-30 March – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Box Office: 02476553055 / http://www.belgrade.co.uk/event/noughts-and-crosses
2-6 April – York Theatre Royal
Box Office: 01904 623568 https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/event/noughts_and_crosses.php#.W6UMJGhKiUk
24 April – 4 May -Theatre Royal Stratford East
Box Office: 020 8534 0310 http://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/noughts-and-crosses
7-11 May -Northern Stage (tickets on sale soon)
Box Office: 0191 2305151 // https://www.northernwww.co.uk/
