Magical Disney musical Bedknobs and Broomsticks set to fly into Edinburgh

A brand new stage musical of the classic Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks is to tour to the Capital’s Festival Theatre for eight performances only at the start of 2022.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is coming to Edinburgh

Based on the 1971 film of the same name starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlison, Bedknobs and Broomsticks tells the story of the three orphaned Rawlins children. Reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat an old enemy once and for all.

Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.Producer Michael Harrison, who trained at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University, promises the new production will allow audiences to enter a world of magic and fantasy, featuring all the original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers, who also scored hit musicals Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Favourite songs to feature will include Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny and will be added to with new music and lyrics by Neil Bartram.

Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres, the trust that operates the Festival Theatre, says, “We are so thrilled to bring this new world premiere production of Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks to Edinburgh. Join us in January 2022 for the most magical ride that will cast a spell over all the entire family.”

With a book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life for the stage by award-winning Scottish-based theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.

The production was originally planned to have made its world premiere at The Yard at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater from May 30 to July 28, 2019, but fell foul of the glabal pandemic. Bedknobs and Broomsticks run at the Festival Theatre from 19-23 January 2022.

After a year almost devoid of theatre, it’s definitely time to start believing in the magic of musicals again, to misquote the show’s tagline. Tickets priced from £26.50 go on general sale Monday December 14, at 10am, here

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