David Baddiel’s The Parent Agency heads to the stage

The Parent Agency, by comedian and author, David Baddiel, will be brought to the stage next year in a brand-new musical…

The Parent Agency – The Musical will begin performances at Storyhouse Chester on Saturday 15 February 2025 and will play for two weeks until Sunday 2 March 2025. Music and additional lyrics will be provided by Dan Gillespie Sells and directed by Tim Jackson.

David Baddiel:

“I’m so happy that my first children’s book The Parent Agency is going to be made into a musical. It’s a book that kids tell me they love, including now young adults who first read it years ago. It takes a very real child on a very magical journey that seems to really suit big musical moments – and these have been brilliantly provided by the genius that is Dan Gillespie Sells, who’s been a total joy to work with.”

The production will appeal to anyone who is, or has been, a child. And also, to anyone who is, or has had, at least one parent. And definitely, to anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry.

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…

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of David Baddiel’s grass-is-always-greener, debut adventure, which has sold over 355,000 copies worldwide. David Baddiel’s books have achieved success and been translated into 30 languages.

Tickets are on sale at www.storyhouse.com.