Theatre news: Curve to stage new adaptation of Kes Gray book

Leicester’s Curve theatre is to stage a new adaptation of Kes Gray’s Daisy and the Trouble With Christmas as one of its festive offerings for 2026. A co-production between Curve and Rebel Sparks, Daisy and the Trouble With Christmas is based on the book of the same name. It will be adapted for the stage by Derby writer Sarah Middleton and co-directed by former Curve resident creatives Hannah Stone and Ria Ashcroft, co-leaders of Rebel Sparks. The show will have new music and lyrics by Darren Clark who in 2024 composed the music and lyrics for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which ran at the Ambassadors Theatre. Clark and Mark Aspinall picked up an Olivier award for outstanding musical contribution. Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, “it’s wonderful our incredibly talented former Curve resident creatives Hannah Stone and Ria Ashcroft are returning to Leicester, having shared this tremendous idea with us and developed it at Curve. “We’re incredibly grateful they’ve chosen Curve to present this beautiful show. It promises to be a brilliant and fun-filled Christmas adventure.” Daisy and the Trouble With Christmas will run in Curve’s studio from Monday 30 November until Sunday 3 January 2027.