THE BUTTERFLY LION By Michael Morpurgo In a new adaptation by Anna Ledwich
DANIEL EVANS AND KATHY BOURNE PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHAN PERSSON
WELCOME
Welcome to our last Minerva Theatre production of Festival 2019, the premiere of this adaptation of The Butterfly Lion. We’re delighted that it follows in the footsteps of last year’s The Midnight Gang, which was the first production specifically to be programmed for family audiences during a Festival season (outside the Youth Theatre promenade productions). We’re thrilled that it’s once again directed by Dale Rooks, who is renewing our relationship with the inimitable Michael Morpurgo on whose best-selling novel it is based. Dale’s production of Michael’s Running Wild – first with CFYT in 2015, then at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and on a UK tour – was one of the most joyful productions of recent years. Michael’s entrancing account of the origins of The Butterfly Lion, later in this programme, amply demonstrates why he is one the master storytellers of this, or any age.
This brand new adaptation is by our Writer-in-Residence, Anna Ledwich. Anna’s new play Crossing Lines was a huge hit for the Youth Theatre earlier this summer, and we’re delighted to have a second work from her this season. Among the outstanding creative team bringing it to life are designer Simon Higlett, lighting designer Johanna Town, composer Tom Brady and the puppetry designer Nick Barnes. The excellent ensemble cast embraces a range of ages and a kaleidoscope of talents, and it’s a joy to see several Youth Theatre members involved. Enjoy the show, and we hope to see you back here at Christmas for The Wizard of Oz.
Executive Director Kathy Bourne
cft.org.uk
Artistic Director Daniel Evans
PRISM CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL THE LOVELY BONES CHRISTMAS CONCERTS THE GRUFFALO THE WIZARD OF OZ THE SLEEPING BEAUTY SIX THE STRANGE TALE OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND STAN LAUREL MY COUSIN RACHEL A MONSTER CALLS OI FROG & FRIENDS! COMEDY, DANCE, MUSIC AND MUCH MORE
Nov 2019 – Feb 2020 cft.org.uk 01243 781312
THE GRUFFALO
Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children and their grown-ups, with this much-loved musical adaptation of the classic picture book. Ages 3+
MINERVA THEATRE 3 – 15 DEC cft.org.uk
THE WIZARD OF OZ Don your ruby slippers and join Chichester Festival Youth Theatre as they journey along the yellow brick road in a wonderful adventure for all the family. Ages 7+
FESTIVAL THEATRE 14 – 29 DEC cft.org.uk
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Moscow City Ballet return with this enchanting and romantic story, complete with live orchestra and breathtaking choreography.
FESTIVAL THEATRE 2 – 5 JAN cft.org.uk
A MONSTER CALLS Patrick Ness’s acclaimed novel is brought vividly to life in an Olivier Award-winning production by visionary director Sally Cookson. Ages 10+
FESTIVAL THEATRE 6 – 15 FEB cft.org.uk
LEAP
LEARNING, EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION Our Learning, Education and Participation department works with people of all ages and abilities, offering opportunities to get involved with CFT beyond the work you see on our stages. A wide range of practical workshops, talks, tours and performances aims to excite and inspire everyone who takes part.
COMMUNITY
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Enjoy developing artistic, personal and social skills through our workshops, projects, productions and award-winning Youth Theatre for young people of all abilities. Chichester Festival Youth Theatre | Holiday Activities | Arts Award
EDUCATION
Our work with local schools, colleges and universities is designed to inspire and enrich students’ learning, while the next generation of arts professionals is nurtured through our training and apprenticeships programme. In-school workshops and projects | Work Experience | School Theatre Days
Learn about life behind the scenes, discover more about productions, develop creative skills, socialise and share experiences with others through workshops and community projects for anyone aged 18 +. Get Into It! workshops | Talks and Discussions | Heritage projects | Dementia Friendly activities
FAMILIES
We’re always delighted to welcome our youngest visitors and their grown-ups to the Theatre. Families can explore and have fun with workshops, productions, events and activities. Family Foyle sessions | Little Notes | Fun Palaces | Family workshops
cft.org.uk/leap
THE BUTTERFLY LION By Michael Morpurgo In a new adaptation by Anna Ledwich
MICHAEL MORPURGO IMAGE COURTESY OF ALAMY
I’LL BEGIN THIS STORY WITH A BOY RUNNING AWAY! Michael Morpurgo talks to us about The Butterfly Lion. What was the inspiration behind The Butterfly Lion? Like most books, it has many, many roots. The first is one of those lovely accidents. There’s a book festival in a place called Hay-on-Wye which I go to from time to time. The town is full of bookshops; I was walking past one and in the window there was a book with a photograph of a white lion on the cover and the title was The White Lions of Timbavati. I went into the shop and asked how much it was and the man said four quid and I bought it. It was the best investment I’d ever made really, because I’d never seen white lions before – I didn’t know they existed. The second thing was that I had the book on my lap on a train journey from Paddington to Exeter, turning the pages and loving the photographs; and at a place called Westbury I looked out of the window and on the hillside, there was this white horse carved out of chalk. So I thought, ‘well that’s strange’, and I looked back at my book and I knew then that I was going to somehow write a story about a white lion carved out of chalk on a hillside. Then, it just got luckier and luckier. I was in Dublin at a conference, and in the lift I met an actress called Virginia McKenna who had been in a film called Born Free which a lot of people know. Everyone who saw her in that film was in love with her; I wasn’t particularly out of the ordinary in this respect. Like a 15-year-old, I said “It’s really nice to meet you and I think your Born Free Foundation is wonderful”. Luckily Virginia didn’t scream and she said “Oh that’s really sweet of you”. I went out of the lift and thought, that was so stupid, but I’ll recover this situation. I had a book called The Dancing Bear which is all about a bear in a cage and the Born Free Foundation is all about not keeping animals in cages, so I signed
it ‘To Virginia McKenna, Love (and I meant it) Michael Morpurgo’. Because I’m shy, I asked the man at hotel reception to give it to her, and I flew back to England. I had a letter from Virginia a week later saying ‘I loved the book and if you ever write a book about a lion, please let me know because I could help’. But I still had no actual story. Where did the final part of the jigsaw come from? I was at one of those very boring dinner parties where there’s always somebody louder than everyone else. Somehow we were all exchanging stories about grandfathers and this seriously loud man goes, “Oh my grandfather, he was in the First World War, you know” and I thought oh lordie, here we go; but I listened to his story and I’m really glad I did. I thought, this is so wonderful, I’m going to set my story in the First World War. (The story that the loud man told about his grandfather’s real life experiences in France in WWI became part of the story of The Butterfly Lion; but we won’t tell it here because it might spoil it for you.) What did you do next? I wasn’t alive in the First World War, which will surprise quite a lot of children! So I wanted a way of getting back to an earlier time. When I was about seven, I was at a boarding school in Sussex, funnily enough, and I ran away. I missed my mum and my home was in Essex, 100 miles away. I went out of the big school gates, turned left and started running. I knew that if I was caught, I would be caned because that’s what happened if you did anything wrong. So I just ran and ran and ran. I have a very strong memory of this, it was pouring with rain, and an old lady with a dog in a car overtook me.