It’s a hoot!
Author, comedian and presenter David Walliams talks about the hilarious stage production of his book Awful Auntie
BESTSELLING children’s author David Walliams has teamed up with the Birmingham Stage Company for a new production of Awful Auntie, and there’ll be just under 200 performances between now and December in its UK tour.
When Stella sets off to visit London with her parents, she’s no idea her life is in danger – and when she wakes up three months later, only Aunt Alberta can tell her what’s happened.
But not everything is true … and Stella’s in for the fight of her life against her very own Awful Auntie.
Here, David talks about the show...
Awful Auntie is the fourth book to become a play by BSC
They’re the kings of family shows and I’m lucky I can trust them 100%. With this story you have to be imaginative: you’ve got a ghost, a killer owl, you’ve got a car chase – it has to be spectacular, funny, and thrilling, and it’s all those.
How involved are you?
Neal Foster’s adapted the book, directed it, and he’s starring in it! We have a chat, I see designs, the costumes, the sets, I come and watch rehearsals and when the show opens. But he completely knows what he’s doing.
What about you in one of the roles?
I’d like to play Aunt Alberta but I can’t commit for practical reasons – although there’s something special about sitting in an audience and hearing the laughter, the gasps, and the applause.
When writing, do you think how a book could be on stage?
I do like creating larger-than-life characters suited to the stage – you want to boo the baddie. I learned from reading Roald Dahl that if you make your villains scary and funny, you’re on the right path.
■ Awful Auntie is suitable for ages 5+. To find out more or book tickets go to birminghamstage.com