Neil Gaiman's play, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is set to return for a limited seven-week run in the West End at the Noel Coward Theatre this autumn following its successful U.K. and Ireland tour.
The production will showcase from October 11th until November 25th. Neil Gaiman said in a statement on the return to the West End: "I am thrilled, overjoyed, and absolutely delighted that this glorious adaptation of my book is going to be returning to the West End on St. Martin's Lane. It makes audiences laugh and cry and wonder. If you wanted to see it, now is your chance."
The plot of The Ocean at the End of the Lane which is based on Gaiman's novel of the same name follows a man who returns to his childhood home to find himself inside a weird and magical world. As he begins to explore the otherworldly habitat, he discovers that not all is quite as it seems at first, and a sinister darkness is slowly creeping in.
The play had its world premiere in 2019 at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre in 2021.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane was first published in 2013 and has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide winning 'Book of the Year' at the 2013 National Book Awards.
The full touring cast will make the transfer to the West End. They include Trevor Fox as Dad, Charlie Brooks as Ursula, Millie Hikasa as Lettie Hempstock, Laurie Ogden as Sis, Keir Ogilvy as Boy, Kemi-Bo Jacobs as Ginnie Hempstock, Finty Williams as Old Mrs. Hempstock, Daniel Cornish as the alternate Boy, and Paolo Guidi, Aimee McGoldrick, Ronnie Lee, and Domonic Ramsden completing the ensemble. Jasmeen James, Emma-Jane Goodwin, Risha Silvera, Lewis Howard, and Joe Rawlinson-Hunt, are the understudies.
The creative team behind the scenes is led by director Katy Rudd, and features sound designer Ian Dickinson, set designer Fly Davis, movement director Steven Hoggett, costume and puppet designer Samuel Wyer, composer Jherek Bischoff, lighting designer Paule Constable, puppetry director Finn Caldwell, magic and illusions director and designer Jamie Harrison.
Neil Gaiman is an acclaimed graphic novelist, whose previous work includes Stardust, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.
Booking & Theatre Info For The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
The Noel Coward Theatre is a medium size West End theatre which has a capacity of 960 seats and is built in a grand and traditional style. Due to the layout of the theatre, some views of the stage at the Noel Coward Theatre are restricted towards the ends of rows and in the higher sections of the venue because of its horseshoe shape.
Premium seats in the theatre are situated in the Stalls around the centre of rows F-G, although when searching for value, it is worth noting that the surrounding seats in this section of the theatre also offer good and clear views, and as most seats in the Stalls are priced similarly it can be beneficial to sit five or six rows back from the front to get the best visual experience. The front section of the Dress Circle is also a good option for good panoramic views of the stage.
There are also six boxes in the Noel Coward Theatre – 2 on the ground floor in the Stalls and a further 4 one level up in the Dress Circle which offer excellent views and offering a very close-up and personal experience.
The Upper Circle on the third level of the venue is considered very good value for those on a budget looking to book cheap tickets to The Ocean At The End Of The Lane as although legroom can be a little tight, it is possible to enjoy the production with a clear view of the stage over the safety rail. Other value can be found in the rear of the Stalls section where seats are sold at a discount regularly.