David Wood 

David Wood: How I adapted The Tiger Who Came to Tea for the stage – in pictures

Director David Wood first met Judith Kerr at the Queen's 80th birthday bash at Buckingham Palace and the Tiger Who Came to Tea author agreed to let him create a play out her iconic book. Here's David's story of how he did it, told with beautiful pictures from the book and his production
  
  


Tiger who came: 1 Tiger illustration
David Wood: It was my daughters' favourite book. One of mine too. The Tiger Who Came to Tea with Sophie is a classic picture book for children, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr in 1968. Adapting the book for the stage was a real pleasure and privilege. It all started when I met Judith… at Buckingham Palace! I had written a play for the occasion. It was seen by 8,000,000 BBC1 viewers. Judith was kind enough to say nice things about it.

Enter our Tiger Who Came To Tea competition! You can win a copy of The Tiger Who Came to Tea signed by Judith Kerr plus four tickets to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea this summer at the Lyric theatre by emailing childrens.books@theguardian.com with the title "Tiger Who Came to Tea" by 29 June 2014, telling us why you want to see the play. See Ts and Cs in the last slide of this gallery. Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: 2 Tiger
We met again several times, and, encouraged by producer Nick Brooke, Judith agreed to let me create a play from her story. It was important to me, and the stage designer Susie Caulcutt, to make the play look as much like Judith's splendid book illustrations as possible. Susie successfully transferred Judith's kitchen to the stage and designed a brilliant tiger costume Photograph: Robert Workman/David Wood
Tiger who came: 3 tiger
My play starts earlier in the day than the book. We see Daddy at breakfast time, late for work. He forgets his key and returns, ringing the doorbell. Often the audience think the Tiger is at the door. The tension builds as the bell rings three more times. First, at elevenses time, it's the Milkman. Second at lunchtime, it's the Postman with parcel for Sophie. Then, at last, at teatime, we reach the beginning of the book. Photograph: David Wood
Tiger who came: 4 tiger
Sophie is very surprised to find a Tiger at the door. So is her Mummy. In the book the Tiger politely asks if he can come to tea. I suggested to Judith that it might work better on stage if the Tiger couldn't talk. This would mean the audience could have fun interpreting this meeting. Judith agreed and happily it seems to work well! Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: 5 tiger
One of the appealing things about Judith's Tiger is how polite he is. Judith told me that her son Matthew once called him "regal" and in the play this description is an important feature of the actor's performance. With lovely table manners he sits at the table with Sophie and Mummy and never snatches the food he is offered. Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: 6 tiger
The plates of sandwiches, buns and biscuits, all of which are devoured with relish by the Tiger, are, in the play, special magic plates created by the clever illusionist, Scott Penrose. I love hearing the audience gasp as the Tiger totally empties each plate in a few seconds. Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: 7 tiger
Wow! "There was nothing left on the table!" In this photo the Tiger is about to gobble an entire cake – another of Scott's mystifying illusions. I love introducing magic into my plays, and Judith's story offers lots of opportunities! Photograph: David Wood
Tiger who came: 8 Tiger
A new "character" in the play is Kitty, a toy kitten that arrives in the parcel brought by the Postman. Kitty looks a little like a tiny baby tiger. Sophie is very pleased that the Tiger greets Kitty warmly and taps her gently on the head. Photograph: David Woods
Tiger who came: 9 tiger
The fun really starts when the Tiger rushes around, looking for more and more food to eat. He empties the fridge and the cupboard, and, when he feels thirsty, he drinks all the tea in the teapot. And all Daddy's beer. And finally, in probably the most famous line of the book, he drinks "all the water in the tap". Judith told me that the publishers wanted her to cut this line because it was too unrealistic! Happily she refused! Photograph: David Wood
Tiger who came: 10 tiger
Music plays a major role in all my plays, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea is no exception. One of my favourite songs from the show is "Tigerobics". The Tiger, by mistake, turns on the radio and hears a voice inviting him – and Sophie and Mummy, AND the audience – to do some stretching "Tigerobic" exercises. The radio presenter sings a song to help explain. For the first time I can reveal a secret… the radio presenter is ME! Photograph: Robert Workman/David Wood
Tiger who came: 11 Tiger
In the book and in the play it is rather sad when the Tiger decides he must go. We never know where he goes to, indeed we never discover where he has come from. But that is part of the magic of the story. When I watch the play one of my favourite parts is when the whole audience wave to the Tiger, calling out "goodbye". He has become a real friend. Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: 12 Tiger
Poor Mummy realises that her kitchen is now a real mess and she has no food left for Daddy's supper. When he comes home from work, he doesn't believe that a Tiger really came to tea until the audience enthusiastically assures him it's true. Then he has the exciting idea that the family should go out for supper – to a cafe! Photograph: Judith Kerr
Tiger who came: starry sky
In the play I added an incident-packed car journey to the cafe, before the family, just like in the book, walk to the cafe, along the lit-up street, under a starry sky. They sing a song celebrating how everything looks excitingly "Different in the Dark". Photograph: Robert Workman/David Wood
Tiger who came: 14 Tiger
Our play ends, just like in the book, with the family shopping for more food, including a special tin of Tiger Food, in case the Tiger should ever come back. But… I'll let you fill in the famous last line! It's a thrill for me to realise it is six years since we first opened our Tiger play, and it is just as popular as ever, having been seen all over the UK and all over the world. Thank you Judith, for trusting me to translate your iconic story to the stage. It's been a joy. David Wood. Photograph: Robert Workman/David Wood
Tiger: Tiger
Remember to enter our Tiger Who Came To Tea competition! You can win a copy of The Tiger Who Came to Tea signed by Judith Kerr plus four tickets to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, in London this summer by emailing childrens.books@theguardian.com with the title "Tiger Who Came to Tea" by 29 June 2014, with one sentence on why you want to see the play. The Prize is for one family ticket (admits four, min one adult) to see one performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea at the Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue until 7 September 2014. All entries must be received by 6pm, 29 June 2014, and the winner will be notified by 2 July 2014. All prizes must be redeemed by 31 July 2014. Strictly subject to availability, the tickets are not transferable and hold no cash value. Photograph: David Wood
 

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