Casting announced for the National Theatre’s critically-acclaimed The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Casting is announced for the National Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman. Adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy Rudd, this thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship will visit Curve for the first time, playing from Tuesday 31 January to Saturday 11 February 2023 as part of a 40 week tour across the UK and Ireland.

The cast includes, Daniel Cornish (alternate Boy), Trevor Fox (Dad), Emma-Jane Goodwin (understudy), Paolo Guidi (ensemble), Millie Hikasa (Lettie Hempstock), Lewis Howard (understudy), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Ginnie Hempstock), Ronnie Lee (ensemble), Aimee McGoldrick (ensemble), Laurie Ogden (Sis), Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Domonic Ramsden (ensemble), Joe Rawlinson-Hunt (understudy), Risha Silvera (understudy) and Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock).  Further casting to be announced.

Daniel Cornish’s previous theatre credits include A Certain Term and The Good Scout. Trevor Fox has previously appeared in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and My Brilliant Friend for the National Theatre. Emma-Jane Goodwin was previously in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the National Theatre and in the West End. Paolo Guidi most recently was part of a new movement film Torch for Frantic Assembly. Millie Hikasa made her professional debut with the NT this summer in Jack Absolute Flies Again after graduating from ArtsEd this year. Lewis Howard’s previous theatre credits include War Horse. Kemi-Bo Jacobs has performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared on TV in The Letter for the King and The Great. Ronnie Lee’s previous theatre includes Harry Potter and Cursed Child. Aimee McGoldrick’s recent theatre credits include A Walk is Not Just a Walk at Lyric Theatre Belfast. Laurie Ogden has previously toured with Napoli, Brooklyn and appeared in Great Expectations for BBC. Keir Ogilvy will be making his touring debut with the National Theatre. Domonic Ramsden’s previous theatre credits include War Horse. Joe Rawlinson-Hunt recently toured with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Risha Silvera will be making her touring debut with the NT. Finty Williams recent theatre credits include The Key Workers Cycle and The Chalk Circle and for TV she was a series regular in The A List.

Neil Gaiman is known for his graphic novels, including The Sandman series (a major new Netflix series which in its first 10 days was watched for over 198 million hours by audiences around the world); his novels for adults and children including Stardust, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book; and multiple film and television projects including Good Omens and Anansi Boys. The Ocean at the End of the Lane was the winner of the Book of the Year at the 2013 National Book Awards and has sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. This first major stage adaptation of his work blends magic with memory in a tour-de-force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.

Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself standing beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean – a place where everything is possible…

Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.

An award-winning creative team join Katy Rudd (Camp Siegfried and Eureka Day, Old Vic) and Joel Horwood (E4’s Skins; I Want My Hat Back, National Theatre); with set design by Fly Davis (Beginning, National Theatre; Caroline or Change, Chichester Festival Theatre, West End, Broadway) and costume and puppet design by Samuel Wyer (The Wizard of Oz, Birmingham Rep; Wolf Witch Giant Fairy, Royal Opera House). Movement direction is by Steven Hoggett (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, National Theatre, West End, Broadway; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, West End, Broadway and internationally), composition by Jherek Bischoff (collaborators include David Byrne and Amanda Palmer), lighting design is by Paule Constable (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, National Theatre, West End; The Normal Heart, National Theatre), sound design by Ian Dickinson for Autograph (Angels in America, National Theatre and Broadway; Small Island, National Theatre), magic and illusions direction and design by Jamie Harrison (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, West End; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, West End, Broadway and internationally) and puppetry direction by Finn Caldwell (Life of Pi, Sheffield Crucible, West End; War Horse, National Theatre). Tour casting is by Naomi Downham. The associate creative team include, Sophie Dillon Moniram as associate director, Tim Blazdell as associate set designer, Jess Williams as associate movement director, Rob Casey for Ammonite and Tom Turner as associate lighting designers, Chris Reid as associate sound designer, John Bulleid as magic and illusions associate, and Gareth Aled as associate puppetry director.

Touring for a total of 40 weeks, this is the largest tour mounted by the National Theatre since before the COVID-19 pandemic. It follows a celebrated six-month run of The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, which opened in 2021 after the production received its world premiere in the Dorfman Theatre in late 2019.

The acclaimed National Theatre production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane will visit Curve 31 January to 11 February 2023 as part of a national tour, with tickets on sale now. For more information and to book click here, or call our Box Office on 0116 242 3595.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is suitable for ages 12+.