Check out the latest photos and videos of brand new musical The Parent Agency, based on David Baddiel’s best-selling children’s book.

The new musical has music and additional lyrics by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody’s Talking about Jamie), with David Baddiel adapting his book for the stage.

New in are production photos from the show, which is now playing at Storyhouse in Chester until 2 March 2025, ahead of a national tour and London run.

Photos: The Parent Agency – production photos

The show is directed by Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), Merrily We Roll Along), and stars Max Bispham (Les Misérables, Mrs Doubtfire), Osian Salter (Les Misérables, The Osmonds A New Musical), Eli Sowden-Mehta (Wonka, Blitz, Wicked) and Louis Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), sharing the lead role of Barry.

The cast also features Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Susan, and Rakesh Boury (Matilda, The Creakers) as Geoff.

Completing the cast are Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Elliot Broadfoot (Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder), Natasha Cayabyab (Shrek the Musical), Dylan Collymore (Shrek The Musical), Sarah McFarlane (SIX), Joshian Angelo Omaña (Why Am I So Single?) Alan Vicary (Girl From The North Country), Ralph Birthwell (Life of Pi), Althea Burey (The Gruffalo), Elliot Copeland (Becoming Nancy), Jessica Daugirda (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Sophia Lewis (Around The World in 80 Days) and Robbie Scott (Sunshine on Leith).

In the show, eleven-year-old Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things he blames his parents, Susan and Geoff, for along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”. So, he makes a wish for a better mum and dad and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternate universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the assistance of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.

For Barry, this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…

The creative team for the show also includes designer Jon Bausor (Spirited Away, Bat Out of Hell), choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, 101 Dalmatians), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Assistant Director Francesca Hsieh (VANYA), with Music Supervisor Nick Finlow (Back to The Future, The Book of Mormon), Music Director Ellen Campbell (Waitress), Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins, The Little Big Things), Associate Sound Designer Richard Jones, and Wig, Hair and Make-Up Designer Craig Forrest-Thomas (Mrs Doubtfire). Casting Director is Olivia Laydon CDG for Jill Green Casting, and Children’s Casting is by Amy Beadel CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.

The show is produced by John Berry and Anthony Lilley of Scenario Two and Suzie Henderson and Helen Redcliffe of Storyhouse.

The musical was originally announced back in March 2023, and confirmed for its Storyhouse Chester run in October.

More about tickets to The Parent Agency The Musical

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Main photo: The Parent Agency at Storyhouse Chester. L-R Alan Vicary as The Head; Natasha Cayabyab as Ginny; Kazmin Borrer as Kay; Max Bispham as Barry. Photo supplied by the production

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