The Union Theatre will present the 20th Anniversary production of Stiles and Drewe’s Honk! from the 29th March until the 22nd April. 

Directed by Andy Room and featuring choreography by Lily Howkins, this 20th anniversary production of the musical will star Liam Vincent-Kilbride who makes his London stage debut as Ugly.

This heartwarming reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling tells the story of Ugly, a plucky little bird who gets picked on by the other farmyard animals because he’s different. Pushed out of the flock, he embarks on an adventure across the marsh, meeting an array of characters who teach him that it takes all sorts to make a world, and that he is much more than just his fowl looks.

The musical features a book and lyrics by  Anthony Drewe and music by George Stiles, whose recent work includes current West End smash-hit Half a Sixpence, Mary Poppins and the soon-to-open The Wind in the Willows at the London Palladium.

Talking about the musical Anthony Drewe said: “When George and I wrote Honk! it was, in part, in response to the reaction that my young mixed–race nephews were receiving at school, because their skin was of a different colour. But bullying is not limited to racial diversity. A recent study in the UK found that 45% of 13 to 18 year-olds have experienced bullying by the age of 18, with the majority saying the primary reason was their physical appearance.”

As well as Liam Vincent-Killbride, the cast will also include Emily Goad, Emma Jane Morton, Ellie Nunn, Robert Pearce, Leon Scott and Sam Sugarman.

This production will only be the third time that the musical has been seen in London since its production at the National Theatre in 2000. It went on to beat the likes of The Lion King and Mamma Mia to win the 2000 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Honk! will play at the Union Theatre from the 29th March until the 22nd April 2017. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.uniontheatre.biz/honk.html.