Mary Poppins - Edinburgh Playhouse

SYNOPSIS

Mary Poppins - Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Playhouse is the venue for Mary Poppins only visit to Scotland on the UK leg of the show's international tour. Showing from 1 October, 2008 to 6 December, 2008, the touring production picks up where the London musical at the Prince Edward Theatre left off, bringing the magic of Mary Poppins to audiences across the UK. Venues at Manchester and Cardiff will also stage the UK touring version of Mary Poppins later in 2008 and into 2009. Evening performances of the show at the Edinburgh Playhouse are from 7.30pm Monday to Saturday. Afternoon matinee performances run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd

Mary Poppins the Musical at the Edinburgh Playhouse is presented jointly by Disney in association with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. Sir Cameron Mackintosh is world renowned for his theatrical productions, and is one of the most influential producers in the world today. He was the driving force behind the adaptation of Mary Poppins for the stage - a journey that began over 25 years ago when he attempted (unsuccessfully at the time) to acquire the stage rights to Mary Poppins.

In 1993 Mackintosh met with Mary Poppin's creator, Pamela Travers, who by then was 93. After several meetings between the pair it was agreed upon that Mackintosh could be trusted with her creation, and that Mary Poppins the Musical would be a fusion of Travers' original book character with elements drawn from the 1964 movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke.

Thus Mary Poppins the Musical started to take shape - but it was not until December 2001 and the arrival of Disney Theatrical Director, Tom Schumacher, in London that the project started to gather momentum. An agreement between Disney and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd cemented the beginnings of this great show, which now finds a new lease of life through its UK and International tour.

The Sherman Brothers - Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman - are credited for many of the lyrics and songs that feature in the stage production of Mary Poppins. Familiar tunes abound including the likes of Feed the Birds and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, both of which won Academy Awards. The Oscar-winning Chim Chim Cher-ee is another song to feature.

In addition George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have composed new songs and written new lyrics for the musical, while Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes wrote the book of the musical.

Mary Poppins at the Edinburgh Playhouse

The Edinburgh Playhouse is the only Scottish venue at which the musical will be staged on the present tour. Edinburgh Playhouse General Manager, James Haworth, is proud that the theatre was chosen to host the show. He said " We are honoured that the Playhouse has been chosen as the venue for the Scottish premiere of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's production of Mary Poppins. The show has been such a huge hit in the West End and on Broadway and it will be a "must see" for people wishing to attend one of the theatrical events of 2008”.