The Time Traveller’s Wife musical adaptation to open at Storyhouse Chester
A musical stage adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife is in the works.
The new musical is based on the 2003 novel by Audrey Niffenegger, which was also turned into a 2009 film starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.
It tells the story of Henry DeTamble, a man with a paranormal genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and his wife Clare Abshire.
The musical adaptation will feature songs by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart and Joss Stone and book by Lauren Gunderson. Bill Buckhurst is set to direct with musical supervision and arrangement by Nick Finlow, additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, and illusions by Chris Fisher. Casting is by Stuart Burt CDG.
The production will premiere at the Chester Storyhouse from 30 September 2022 ahead of a planned West End run.
Lauren Gunderson said: “I will never forget reading the last chapter of Audrey Niffenegger’s book over ten years ago and being floored by its thunderous emotion and potent humanity. I knew this love story belonged on stage with music and vision that matches its emotional punch and soaring feeling. I know this musical will lift, delight, hearten and exhilarate.”
Dave Stewart and Joss Stone added: “We have been on many crazy adventures together but we’ve never ‘Time Travelled’ till meeting Lauren Gunderson. Writing these songs together whilst being in different locations on different time zones has been a trip (literally), throwing us into an eddy of emotive melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics to go with the push and pull of this unusual love story.
“We all time travel in our relationships and in our lives in general, but to write something that people will see and hear happening live on stage is thrilling to imagine, and hearing Bill Buckhurst’s interpretations of Lauren’s script for stage as we went along has been so inspiring.”
And Producer Colin Ingram commented: “Bringing this book to the stage was my wife’s idea, as, for her and so many others, The Time Traveller’s Wife has been a significant and deeply cherished story.
“Having Henry constantly appearing and disappearing throughout the story (with his age changing each time, backwards and forwards) requires this stellar creative team, and this show promises to be an incredibly emotional experience for the audience. Lauren’s adaptation is truly wonderful and the soulful sound of Dave and Joss’s music will lift everyone’s spirits as a truly wonderful tonic in post-pandemic world.”
For more information, visit timetravellerswife.com.
Alongside the new musical and previous film, HBO is adapting the novel for a TV series starring Theo James and Rose Leslie.
