Cast Announced for Inkheart

Our Artistic Director: Theatre, Walter Meierjohann, has announced the cast of Inkheart, our 2015 family Christmas show, which runs from Fri 4 Dec 2015 to Sat 9 Jan 2016.

Based on Inkheart, the worldwide best-selling fantasy novel for children by Cornelia Funke – who will join us for our Big Family Day on Sunday 13 December – the production features a cast of 10. Katherine Carlton, who graduated from the prestigious drama school LAMDA in 2013, takes the central part of Meggie, our 12-year-old hero who is drawn into a world of mystery, magic, and adventure when the characters in her favourite books come alive. Paul McEwan, with north west credits at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and the Dukes Lancaster, as well as at the Royal Shakespeare Company, plays Mo, her father, while Stockport-based Kelly Hotten, plays Resa, Meggie’s mother, as well as being the narrator of the story.

Kelly also has a number of appearances at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and TV credits in programmes including Doctors and WPC56. Chester-based Andy Sheridan, who plays the fire-eater Dustfinger, has appearances at The Lowry and the Royal Exchange, plus TV appearances including Coronation Street, Shameless, and Clocking Off, to his name. He also appeared in Control, the film of the life of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

Rachel Atkins and Griffin Stevens, who appeared in our Manchester Theatre Award-winning production of Romeo & Juliet at Victoria Baths in Autumn 2014, return to play Elinor, Meggie’s aunt, and Flatnose, one of a band of evil villains, respectively. Rachel is well-known to Radio 4 listeners as Vicky Tucker in The Archers. Flatnose’s evil partner-in-crime, Capricorn, will be played by Will Irvine, who made a huge impression in Angel Meadow, our first-ever production in Spring 2014, which won Best Production and Best Ensemble in the 2014 Manchester Theatre Awards.

Veteran Scottish actor Kern Falconer plays Fenoglio, the wise old author whose characters leap off the pages of Inkheart and into the real world, Andrei Costin, who appeared in Nottingham Playhouse’s UK tour of The Kite Runner, plays Farid, and finally, Darryl Clark, who has recently been playing a number of characters in The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre in the West End, plays Basta, who along with Farid is one of Capricorn’s two henchmen.

Inkheart has been adapted by Walter Meierjohann and Stephen Sharkey, and designed by Berlin-based French designer Stéphane Laimé. The music has been composed by Nikola Kodjabashia, who also worked on Romeo & Juliet last year.

Inkheart will take you on a thrilling quest full of adventure, humour and charm,” says Walter Meierjohann, our Artistic Director: Theatre, “and the cast will make our first Christmas show one to remember. It is a magical story, full of imagination, and the celebration of that story-telling and imagination is exactly what we are all about.”

“I am particularly pleased that Cornelia will be with us for our Big Family Day on Sunday 13 December,” adds Walter. “We have a whole day of events lined up for everyone. It should be a memorable day and the perfect start to Christmas in Manchester.”

Find out more about our packed programme of creative workshops, family friendly theatre and films at our Big Family Day on Sunday 13 Dec here.

Inkheart runs from Fri 4 Dec 2015 – Sat 9 Jan 2016. Find out more and book tickets here.