Stage adaptation of Judith Kerr’s Mog The Forgetful Cat to premiere in Northampton ahead of UK tour

A brand new stage adaptation of Judith Kerr’s Mog The Forgetful Cat will premiere at Royal & Derngate Northampton in June.

A collaboration between Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Old Vic and The Wardrobe Ensemble, the production will open at Royal & Derngate Northampton from 3 – 19 June before a UK tour in 2023.

The first-ever stage adaptation of Mog The Forgetful Cat will be directed by Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton, with songs, live music and a menagerie of creatures little and large.

The full creative team is made up of composer & musical director Joey Hickman, designer Laura McEwen, sound designer Beth Duke and lighting designer Rajiv Pattani

Making up the company are Tom England, Joey Hickman, Hanora Kamen, Kerry Lovell, Jesse Meadows, Robyn Sinclair and Ben Vardy.

‘Bother that cat!’

Mog always seems to be in trouble. She forgets that she has a cat flap and she forgets that she has already eaten her supper. But sometimes, Mog’s forgetfulness comes in very handy…

Join Mog, and her people the Thomas family, on a journey through one year in the life of a really remarkable cat, as she catches a burglar, gatecrashes a cat show, goes to the vee-eee-tee and eats lots and lots of eggs.

Royal & Derngate Artistic Director James Dacre said: “These magical stories, from one of the country’s greatest writers for younger audiences, have delighted generations of children. We’re thrilled to be welcoming back The Wardrobe Ensemble and to be partnering with The Old Vic for the first time to reimagine them for the stage.”

Helena Middleton of The Wardrobe Ensemble added: “I absolutely loved the Mog books growing up. We used to have a book fair at my school and I would literally race there to make sure I was the first to get my hands on a copy. I am so delighted to be part of the team which will bring Mog to the stage and honour Judith Kerr’s gorgeous stories and illustrations.”

For more information and tickets on the Northampton run, visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Details on the 2023 tour will be announced in due course.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.