The Book of Dust Tickets

By: Phillip Pullman, adapted by Bryony Lavery
Songs by: Grant Olding
Director: Nicholas Hytner, Emily Burns and James Cousins
Cast list: Julie Atherton, Holly Atkins, Wendy Mae Brown, Pip Carter, Samuel Creasey, Ella Dacres, Ayesha Dharker, Heather Forster, Naomi Frederick, Richard James-Neale, John Light, Dearbhla Molloy, Tomi Ogbaro, Sid Sagar, Nick Sampson and Sky Yang
Design: Bob Crowley
Lighting: Jon Clark
Choreography: James Cousins
Sound: Paul Arditti

The fantastical world of Philip Pullman is coming to the stage once again, with the world premiere adaptation of The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage at London’s Bridge Theatre. Join a baby Lyra and her two young protectors on a daring river chase in Nicholas Hytner’s highly anticipated new production. Plan your trip now and book your The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage tickets.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Pullman’s work has been adapted. His original trilogy, His Dark Materials, has spawned a Hollywood film, a recent BBC/HBO TV series, and an acclaimed stage version at the National Theatre back in 2003. The latter bodes extremely well for The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage London production.

This new story, the first in Pullman’s The Book of Dust trilogy, is actually a prequel to His Dark Materials. Here, the heroine of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, Lyra Belacqua, is just a baby in need of protection. Young Malcolm and Alice rescue her from evil forces and escape down the river during an epic flood, hoping to reach her father, Lord Asriel. Bryony Lavery is adapting the story for stage and it promises to be a thrilling adventure, so make sure you don’t miss The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage at the Bridge Theatre.

This slick, modern London venue can be configured in numerous ways, which should prove handy when dealing with Pullman’s world — there’s switches between recognisable parts of our own reality and mystical elements, such as daemons, the animal-like creatures which reflect their person’s inner self. Pullman also addresses organised religion through the all-powerful Magisterium, as well as philosophical and scientific ideas. That should make The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage play a rich experience for audiences of all ages. It’s also bound to be a very popular booking, so don’t leave it too late. Buy your The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage tickets now.

What to Watch For

• Nicholas Hytner is no stranger to Philip Pullman’s work. When he was artistic director at the National, he directed the stage adaptation of His Dark Materials, which starred Anna Maxwell Martin, Dominic Cooper, Timothy Dalton and Patricia Hodge. He now hosts the premiere of Pullman’s latest trilogy at his new venue, the Bridge Theatre.
• Bryony Lavery also has a strong track record of bringing literary favourites to stage. Her previous adaptations include David Walliams’ The Midnight Gang and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for Chichester Festival Theatre, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island for the National Theatre, and touring productions of Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock and Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.
• How will this stage play capture Pullman’s fantastical creatures? Well, there’s definitely going to be puppetry involved, as Barnaby Dixon is part of the creative team. Dixon’s puppet-based YouTube videos are hugely popular and use innovative technical methods, so expect to see that reflected in the production.
• Prequel La Belle Sauvage offers fascinating insights into His Dark Materials for Pullman superfans. See if you can spot all of the author’s references — whether it’s the rise of the Magisterium, the origins of an alethiometer, the pivotal role of Jordan College, or more subtle plot and character Easter eggs.
• Water-based plays have a mixed history on our stages. Alan Ayckbourn’s Way Upstream, with its flooded stage, was a notorious flop at the National Theatre in 1982. But there have been recent successes, too, like Life of Pi. Life of Pi uses imaginative theatrical techniques, rather than a literal deluge, and Hytner’s production — which has a video designer and movement director on board — looks to be in that vein.