The Stage

Stars unite for royal play celebrating children’s books

Published Monday 12 June 2006 at 16:25 by Liz Thomas

Julie Walters, Jonathan Ross, Harry Hill, Martin Clunes, Ronnie Corbett, Bradley Walsh and Patsy Kensit are among the stars to appear in a stage production, which will also broadcast on BBC1, celebrating British children’s literature in honour of the Queen’s 80th birthday.

The live show, entitled The Queen’s Handbag, will be played in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on a huge stage in front of 3,000 guests and recorded to air on BBC1 and the CBBC Channel on June 25. More than 80 characters from the world of literature will be gathering together for the dramatisation written by children’s author and playwright David Wood, with Julian Fellowes as executive script editor and Trevor Nunn as stage director.

Over 30 stars of stage and screen will join some of Britain’s best-loved literary characters including Mary Poppins, Rupert the Bear, Winnie the Pooh, Paddington, the BFG, Postman Pat, Mrs Tiggywinkle, Noddy and the Gruffalo for the production.

Executive producer Lorna Dickinson said: “I am delighted that so many stars of stage, screen and literature are coming together for this once in a lifetime event. We’re also privileged to have such a fantastic production team working on making this show something special for everyone to remember. I’m sure the Children’s Party at the Palace will go down in history as a fantastic celebration of children’s literature and of the Queen’s 80th birthday.”

Walters plays a palace maid, Ross plays Sir Topham Hat, Hill is Hogwarts Owl Keeper, Clunes stars as PC Plod, Corbett appears as Mr Tibbs, Walsh plays Burglar Bill, Kensit is the Grand High Witch, while Kelly Osbourne features as Wendy.

The exact storyline remains a closely guarded secret but the tale follows a search for the Queen’s speech, which is goes missing just as her birthday celebrations begin. There will be an exclusive scene starring four of the leading characters from Harry Potter has also been written especially for the drama and will include Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Neville (Matthew Lewis).

Also confirmed to star in the play are EastEnders stars Kacey Ainsworth, June Brown and Pam St Clement, Coronation Street’s Sam Aston, comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joe Pasquale, Richard O’Brian and Alan Titchmarsh.