LIFE OF PI – CAST ANNOUNCED FORWARD-WINNING PLAY AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE THIS AUTUMN
Casting has been announced for the Olivier-Award-winning production Life of Pi,
which visits Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre from 17 – 21 October 2023 on its first
ever tour of the UK and Ireland.
Alongside an extraordinary life-size puppeteered Bengal Tiger.
Tickets for Life of Pi are on sale now: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2023/life-of-pi
The stage adaption stars Divesh Subaskaran in his professional debut as the central role of
Pi, alongside an extraordinary life-size puppeteered Bengal Tiger.
Divesh will be joined by Antony Antunes, who performs as Tiger Hind / Cook / Father Martin,
Adwitha Arumugam as Pi Alternate, Bhawna Bhawsar as Lulu Chen / Mrs Biology Kumar,
Ralph Birtwell as Mamaji / Admiral Balbir Singh, Kriss Dosanjh as Father.
Sebastian Goffin and Akash Heer will perform as Tiger Head, Romina Hytten as Tiger Heart
and Hind, Katie Kennedy-Rose as Tiger Heart and Hind, Aizah Khan as Tiger Heart and
Hind, Chand Martinez as Pandit-ji, Keshini Misha as Rani, Goldy Notay as Amma, Sharita
Oomeer as Lulu Chen / Mrs Biology Kumar, Kate Rowsell as Tiger Heart and Hind, Lilian
Tsang as Mrs Okamoto / Zaida Khan / Ships Captain, and Peter Twose as Tiger Head /
Voice of Richard Parker / Cook / Father Martin.
Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel – winner of the Man Booker Prize, selling over
fifteen million copies worldwide – Life of Pi is a breath-taking new theatrical adaptation of an
epic journey of endurance and hope.
After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors
stranded on a single lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a sixteen- year-old boy and a
450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?
Life of Pi, which concluded its West End run on 15 January 2023, first opened to critical
acclaim at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 2019. International commitments for the show
include its North American Premiere at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard
University where it ran from 4 December 2022 to 29 January 2023, followed by its Broadway
premiere at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre where it opened on 9 March 2024. A European
tour will follow the tour of the UK and Ireland and there are plans underway for a tour of
Australia and Asia.
Life of Pi won five Olivier Awards in April 2022.
Life of Pi won five Olivier Awards in April 2022. As well as Best New Play, and Best Actor for
Hiran Abeysekera (the original Pi); in an historic first for the Olivier Awards – the seven
performers who puppeteer the Tiger ‘Richard Parker’ were collectively awarded Best Actor in
a Supporting Role. The production also picked up awards for set (Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes
and Finn Caldwell), and lighting design (Tim Lutkin and Andrzej Goulding).
Opening to celebratory reviews on Broadway in March
Opening to celebratory reviews on Broadway in March, the production was nominated for
five Tony Awards and celebrated after winning three of its five nominated categories: Best
Scenic Design of a Play (Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding) and Best Lighting Design of a Play
(Tim Lutkin) and Best Sound Design of a Play (Carolyn Downing).
The designers
Life of Pi is produced by Simon Friend in association with Playing Field and Tulchin/Bartner
and is directed by Max Webster. Set and Costume Designer is Tim Hatley, the Puppet
designers are Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, and the Puppet and Movement Director is
Finn Caldwell. The Video Designer is Andrzej Goulding, the Lighting Designer is Tim Lutkin,
the Sound Designer is Carolyn Downing, the Composer is Andrew T Mackay. Dramaturgy is
by Jack Bradley, the Casting Director is Polly Jerrold, the Associate Director is Leigh Toney,
the Associate Puppetry and Movement Director is Scarlet Wilderink, the Associate Set
Designer is Ross Edwards, the Associate Puppet Designer is Caroline Bowman, the
Costume Supervisor is Sabrina Cuniberto and the Props Supervisor is Ryan O’Conner.
