David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny at the Bloomsbury Theatre this Christmas
The Olivier Award nominated production of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny has opened in the West End for a month-long run.
The show is an adaptation of Mr Walliams’ 2011 book of the same name, which tells the story of Ben, a boy who hates having to stay with his granny every week while his parents watch a dancing show on tv.
A 130-minute stage production adapted by the Birmingham Stage Company opened on December 9 at the Bloomsbury Theatre.
The show follows Ben as he realises Granny has her very own secret.
Soon, Fridays become more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on night-time adventures with his very own Gangsta Granny.
Mr Walliams said: “It’s a huge thrill seeing Gangsta Granny have this whole new life on the stage alongside the TV film.
“People seem to really like the story. In fact, Gangsta Granny is my best-selling book by far and the stage production is brilliant.
“There is lots of action in Gangsta Granny, especially when they try to steal the Crown Jewels – so it’s quite a challenge for the Birmingham Stage Company to bring those scenes to life, but they do it so wonderfully well.
“The great thing about seeing Gangsta Granny on stage is you will get to share it with an audience.
“So hopefully you will laugh and cry along with everyone else. That’s what makes theatre so special.
Mr Walliams’ particularly liked how Ben’s parents are portrayed.
He said: “I like the characters of Ben’s mum and dad. Their obsession with ballroom dancing is very funny brought to life in the play.”
Mr Walliams first started writing children’s books ten years ago after having his first idea.
He said: “What if a boy went to school dressed as a girl? I thought it would be a thought-provoking children’s book.
“That became The Boy in the Dress, the first of my children’s novels.”
He finds children’s fiction offers him much more freedom in terms of story, saying: “The only limitation in a children’s book is your imagination.
“You can take children on magical journeys in books that many adults would be reluctant to go on.
In his own books Mr Walliams said he thought that children would like the humour, adding: “I imagine they like that I don’t patronise them.
“I deal with quite big topics, crossdressing, homelessness, and grief.
“I know children are a lot smarter than most grown-ups think.”
Pictured: Gangsta Granny-new Photo-by-Mark-Douet
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