Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive Helen Matravers and the whole team are pleased to announce the full cast and creative team for their upcoming premiere of a new stage adaptation of Kevin and Katie Tsang’s best-selling book Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts.
Recommended for 6 – 12-year-olds, the adaptation will play in the Main Theatre at the Wimbledon venue from Saturday 22 June – Sunday 18 August 2024.
Sam Wu is NOT a scaredy-cat (except he is). When a trip to the Space Museum goes terrifyingly wrong, Sam begins a mission to prove to everyone that he is a fearless space adventurer…
Sam Liu (Ted Lasso – Apple TV+, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – Watermill Theatre) will play the title role of ‘Sam Wu’ and will be joined by 2022 The Stage Debut Award nominee Kudzai Mangombe (Malindadzimu – Hampstead Theatre, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe –Birmingham REP) as ‘Zoe’, Off West End Award-winner Ed Cooke (Tossed – Royal Vauxhall Tavern, An Apology to Lady Gaga – VAULT Festival) as ‘Bernard/Pet Shop Owner, Off West End Award-winner Yuki Sutton (Ride: The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre, Theodosia – BBC) as ‘Lucy/Na-Na/Ralph’ and Daniel York (Dr Semmelweis – West End, Snow in Midsummer – RSC) as ‘Spaceman Jack’.
The creative team will be led by Director Emily Ling Williams (recent winner of Best Director at the 2023 Stage Debut Awards for A Playlist for the Revolution, Bush Theatre) and Writer Julie Tsang and they will be joined by Liam Bunster as Designer (Set & Costume), Gillian Tan as Lighting & Video Designer, and Holly Khan as Composer & Sound Designer.
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts was first published in 2018 and was the first of a series of six titles, all of which deal with common childhood fears in a hilarious, sensitive and accessible way.
Helen Matravers said, “Sam Wu empowers, entertains and delights with surprises for chapter-book loving children, snake fans and ghost hunters! So, I am beyond delighted that Kevin and Katie Tsang have entrusted Polka to take this story and turn it into something really magical for the stage. With the talented Julie Tsang and Emily Ling Williams leading the creative vision for the show, we are in for such a wonderful treat this Summer.
The lack of Global Majority representation in Children’s Theatre and Literature is something we are acutely aware of, particularly around popular adaptations. This is a wonderful moment to celebrate a character with East Asian heritage front and centre on our Main stage in Polka’s 2024 theatre programme.
Sam Wu authors Kevin and Katie Tsang said, “We are so thrilled that Polka Theatre is adaptingSam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts for the stage! Polka Theatre creates incredible shows for children and young people – and we love their commitment to making theatre accessible for all children. It is a privilege to be working with such a wonderful theatre, and to have such a fantastic creative team behind the adaptation. We often take our own children to shows at Polka – and we can’t wait to see Sam Wu on stage!”
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghostsispublished by Farshore, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Polka Theatre is one of just a handful of dedicated children’s venues in the UK. Re-opening in 2021 after a major renovation, Polka continues to present a year-round programme of shows produced by Polka and from visiting companies.
Polka also offers a full programme of creative learning activities for ages 0–12, with over 21,000 children taking part in the last year. Polka enjoys flexible rehearsal and workshop spaces along with two performance spaces: the Main Theatre has a 300-seat capacity, and the Adventure Theatre can seat up to 90 depending on the show format.
Polka is a sustainably minded community hub and vital resource, open 6 days per week, 50 weeks per year, with step-free access, free-to-access play spaces and a cosy and welcoming café and shop.
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