A musical adaptation of Finding Neverland will receive its world premiere at the Leicester Curve this autumn, with Gwyneth Paltrow rumoured to be leading the cast.
Rob Ashford, who recently won his fifth Olivier award for last year's Donmar Warehouse revival of Anna Christie, will direct the production, which is adapted from the Oscar-winning film that starred Johnny Depp as the author and playwright JM Barrie.
Finding Neverland imagines the story behind Barrie's novel Peter Pan, as the author rediscovers his creative spark after meeting Sylvia Llewelyn Davies – played by Kate Winslet in the film – and her four sons.
Allan Knee, whose play The Man Who Was Peter Pan inspired the film in the first instance, will write the book with music and lyrics by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie. The production, which will run at the Curve between 22 September and 18 October, is being produced by Harvey Weinstein.
Paltrow has been linked to the production, alongside Julian Ovenden, who played Barrie in workshops for the production, which is reportedly aiming for a West End run after its stint in Leicester. The actor, who won an Oscar for her performance in Shakespeare in Love, last appeared on stage in the UK 10 years ago in the Donmar Warehouse's production of Proof.
