Full casting announced for Kneehigh at the Globe’s 946: The Amazing Story
of Adolphus Tips
Monday 25 July 2016
Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce casting for 946: The Amazing Story of
Adolphus Tips, co-adapted by Michael Morpurgo and Globe Artistic Director Emma Rice.
After a critically acclaimed 2015 run at Kneehigh’s Asylum, Emma Rice’s family show will be
brought to London for the first time, before embarking on a major international tour of the UK
and US. It tells the story of the rehearsed D-Day landings in Devon’s Slapton Sands, and
stars Katy Owen as the heroine Lily, Mike Shepherd as her grandfather, Adam Sopp as
the evacuee Barry, and Nandi Bhebhe and Ncuti Gatwa as American soldiers Harry and
Adi.
Katy Owen reprises the role of Lily, having also recently starred in Kneehigh’s Rebecca, and
as Puck in the Globe’s 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre
includes The World of Work (Difficult Stage), Apparitions of Spirits with the Forsythe Sisters
(Gaggle Babble), Maudie’s Rooms and Plum and Cinders (Sherman Cymru). Her film work
includes Daddy’s Girl and Shopping for Happiness.
Artistic Director of Kneehigh Mike Shepherd will play Lily’s grandpa. Since founding the
company in 1980, he has worked almost exclusively with them as both an actor and director,
with recent shows including Tristan and Yseult, Steptoe and Son, Midnight’s Pumpkin, The
Red Shoes, The Bacchae, Cymbeline, The Wooden Frock, A Matter of Life and Death and
Don John. As director, most recent credits include Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love
songs), A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (puppet version with Little Angel Theatre) and
an upcoming tour of The Tin Drum. His film credits include Anna Karenina and Pan.
Adam Sopp with take the role of Barry. Adam made his professional debut in Oliver! at the
Palladium, after which he took the role of Gavroche in Les Misérables (Palace Theatre).
Other recent theatre includes Sunny Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre), The El Train (Hoxton
Hall) and Backbeat (West End). He appeared in four series of the BBC’s Grange Hill, and
voiced the titular protagonist in four of the Harry Potter video games.
Nandi Bhebhe will reprise her role as Harry. Nandi is currently playing First Fairy/Starveling
in the Globe’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre includes 5,6,7,8 (Royal Court),
Episodes of Blackness (Vocab Dance Company), Fela! (National Theatre/ Broadway/ US
Tour), A Season in the Congo (Young Vic) and White Out (Barrowland Ballet Dance
Company).
The role of Adi will be played by Ncuti Gatwa. Ncuti is currently starring as Demetrius in the
Globe’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His other recent theatre credits include Victoria,
Hecuba, The BFG, And Then There Were None, Cars + Boys and A Woman in Mind
(Dundee Rep), Romeo and Juliet (Home Theatre, Manchester), Shakespeare in Love (West
End) and Lines (Yard Theatre).
Michael Morpurgo, author of The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips and co-adaptor of 946, is
one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, having published over 130 books. His multiple
accolades include the Whitbread Children’s Book Award, Carnegie Medal and the Red
House Children’s Book Award. In 2003 he was appointed Children’s Laureate.
The full cast comprises of Nandi Bhebhe, Adebayo Bolaji, Emma Darlow, Ncuti Gatwa,
Kyla Goodey, Chris Jared, Katy Owen, Mike Shepherd, Adam Sopp and Ewan Wardrop.
The character of Blues Man will be played by Akpore Uzoh on tour, replacing Adebayo
Bolaji after the London run.
946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips will tour in association with Birmingham Repertory
Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, opening to press at Shakespeare’s Globe before
travelling to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Warwick and Bristol and then on to venues in
the US including Berkeley Repertory theatre and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the
performing Arts, Los Angeles.
ENDS
946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips
Thursday 11 August – Sunday 11 September
Directed by Emma Rice
Co-adapted from the novel by Emma Rice and Michael Morpurgo
Press Night: Wednesday 17 August
EDITORS’ NOTES
Shakespeare’s Globe
Booking:
Phone
+44 (0) 20 7401 9919
In person
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (8pm on performance days)
Sundays
10am-5pm (7pm on performance days)
Online
www.shakespearesglobe.com
Tickets
£5 - £43 (Globe Theatre) £10 - £62 (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)
For more information please contact Claudia Conway or Danielle Pearson on +44 (0)
207 902 1491 / 1492 or email [email protected] /
[email protected]
For tour information and review tickets, please contact Clióna Roberts on 0207 704
6224 / 07754 756504
Patrons who are members of the free access scheme are eligible for adjusted ticket prices.









The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: The candlelit Jacobean theatre at Shakespeare's
Globe opened in January 2014. The Playhouse hosts concerts and other events
throughout the summer season. Its main indoor theatre season runs from October to
April, and this year will centre on the theme of Wonder Noir, with productions of Milton’s
Comus, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Matchgirl, Webster’s The White Devil and
Shakespeare’s Othello.
Globe Education: One of the largest arts education departments in the UK; each year,
over 100,000 people of all ages and nationalities participate in its public events,
workshops and courses. Globe Education also runs extensive outreach programmes for
students and teachers in the Southwark community, nationally and internationally.
Globe Exhibition & Tour: Open to the public all year round, the Globe Exhibition and
Tour explores the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for
which he wrote.
Globe On Tour: The Globe’s productions tour extensively in the UK and internationally.
The 2016 Globe on Tour season includes Jonathan Munby’s hit production of The
Merchant of Venice, starring Jonathan Pryce, and Nick Bagnall’s The Two Gentlemen of
Verona.
Globe Player: A brand new online platform offering full-length HD films of over 50
Shakespeare productions at the Globe to rent or buy.
Globe On Screen: Shakespeare's Globe on Screen returns to cinemas in 2016, bringing
highlights from the 2015 theatre season to cinemas worldwide. Globe on Screen 2016
will feature The Merchant of Venice, Richard II and Measure for Measure, all captured in
'live' high definition. For more information contact [email protected]
Globe Shop: Stocks a variety of products, including theatre season-specific
merchandise. All profits go towards supporting our educational mission.
The Swan Bar and Restaurant and the Foyer Café Bar: Open all year round, for
reservations and more information please call 020 7928 9444 or visit loveswan.co.uk
The Shakespeare Globe Trust: Registered UK charity No. 266916. Shakespeare’s
Globe receives no regular public subsidy.