Emma Kilbey is an actor, writer and director

Exeter alumna brings production back to Northcott Theatre

Actor and Director Emma Kilbey (English, 1989) is returning to Exeter this summer as part of the tour of her latest show.

With composer Joe Stilgoe, Emma has adapted Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best-selling book, Zog and the Flying Doctors, into a family theatre production that has been successfully touring the country visiting the South Bank, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, and Edinburgh Festival Theatre, among many others.

And from Friday, 1 July to Sunday 3 July it will be on stage at the Northcott Theatre on the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus.

Emma says: “Adapting a children’s book is a real challenge…  if you read it as it is, it takes around seven minutes but our show is an hour long! It’s about augmenting key moments with funny or poignant skits and songs that add to the flavour and heart of the story. We’ve also basically taken the style of the illustrations and made our set an exact replica. It means the children are rewarded by seeing something that they already recognise - but in super-bright 3D!

“It’s actually more of a challenge in some ways to create a show that resonates for both adults and children; it has to cover many bases to appeal to all ages. We have woven in plenty of detail in terms of themes, visual clues and some cheeky lyrics that the adults will get. It’s really important to me that the whole family is entertained - when I’m at a show I find myself spending time looking at the audience watching it and am always chuffed when I see parents laughing and joining in with any participation. We’ve gone for a Muppet Show appeal, I guess!”

Emma hasn’t returned to campus for nearly 20 years so is excited to revisit where she studied. She says: “I’m excited and can’t wait to see the show in a theatre I know well. I’m sure it will bring many formative memories (and probably some big feelings) flooding back! It feels like I’ve come full circle, and I am proud of that! My nephew, his wife and my great niece and nephew live in Exeter so it is joyous to be seeing the show alongside them.”

Alumni can purchase tickets for the show via the Northcott website: https://www.exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/zog-and-the-flying-doctors/

Date: 8 June 2022