Neil Gaiman recently took time to visit The Ocean at the End of the Lane UK Tour company at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
![Neil Gaiman](https://framerusercontent.com/images/kIiByxjSq1jo3hmK0UtoTaUluRA.jpg)
Neil Gaiman and The Ocean at the End of the Lane UK Touring Company. Photo: Stuart Martin Photography Neil Gaiman, the author behind the best-selling novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane which was adapted for stage by Joel Horwood, directed by Katy Rudd visited the National Theatre's smash-hit production at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on Tuesday 4 July. The company also celebrated over 200 shows on tour.
Watch the video of Neil Gaiman surprising The Ocean at the End of the Lane UK Tour company below.
This first major stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman's work blends magic with memory in a tour-de-force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.
This year marks 10 years since Neil Gaiman's best-selling novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, was first published. The novel won Book of the Year at 2013 National Book Awards and has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
The 17-strong ensemble cast are: Charlie Brooks (Ursula), Daniel Cornish (alternate Boy), Trevor Fox (Dad), Emma-Jane Goodwin (ensemble/ understudy), Paolo Guidi (ensemble), Millie Hikasa (Lettie Hempstock), Lewis Howard (ensemble/understudy), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Ginnie Hempstock), Jasmeen James (ensemble/understudy), Ronnie Lee (ensemble), Aimee McGoldrick (ensemble), Laurie Ogden (Sis), Keir Ogilvy (Boy), Domonic Ramsden (ensemble), Joe Rawlinson-Hunt (ensemble/understudy), Risha Silvera (ensemble/understudy) and Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdvfLZfjLlU The award-winning creative team includes set designer, Fly Davis; costume and puppet designer, Samuel Wyer; movement director, Steven Hoggett; composer, Jherek Bischoff; lighting designer, Paule Constable; sound designer, Ian Dickinson; magic and illusions director and designer, Jamie Harrison; puppetry director, Finn Caldwell and casting director, Naomi Downham. The associate creative team includes associate director, Sophie Dillon Moniram; associate set designer, Tim Blazdell; associate movement director, Jess Williams; associate lighting designers, Rob Casey (for Ammonite) and Tom Turner; associate sound designer, Chris Reid; associate magic and illusions director, John Bulleid; and associate puppetry director, Gareth Aled. Neil Gaiman is known for his graphic novels, including The Sandman series (a major new Netflix series which in its first 10 days was watched for over 198 million hours by audiences around the world); his novels for adults and children including Stardust, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book; and multiple film and television projects including Good Omens (season 2 is due to appear on Amazon Prime from 28 July) and Anansi Boys.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is currently on tour, visiting 29 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, before transferring to London's West End playing at Noël Coward Theatre. Book tickets for the West End season here.
https://britishtheatre.com/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-returns-to-west-end/