New Bedknobs and Broomsticks musical coming to Manchester next year

Disney’s Academy Award-winning movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks will make its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical in the UK next year.

And the good news is, it’s coming to Manchester.

Performances begin at Newcastle Theatre Royal on 14th August 2021, before embarking on a UK and Ireland tour until January 2022.

This includes a visit to Manchester Palace Theatre from 19th – 24th October 2021.

The 1971 film starred Angela Lansbury, and the story followed three children who went to live with an apprentice witch after being evacuated from wartime London.

When the three orphaned Rawlins children are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead.

Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all.

Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.

For the 44th Academy Awards, the 1971 film was nominated for five Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Scoring, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, and Best Visual Effects, in which the film won the latter award.

With the original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny and new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life for the stage by award-winning theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is produced by Michael Harrison by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions.

Casting for the production will be announced at a later date.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks will come to Manchester Palace Theatre from Tuesday 19th –  Sunday 24th October 2021. Tickets cost from £13 and are available to buy now.