The Parent Agency at Storyhouse
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
David Baddiel’s best-selling children’s book – The Parent Agency – is brought to Storyhouse’s stage in a brand-new musical.
This exciting new British musical sees the much-loved author and comedian team up with one of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters, Dan Gillespie-Sells, best-known as frontman of The Feeling and creator of the music for sell-out musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Riotous, fun-packed and a huge adventure for all ages, this is a Storyhouse world premiere everyone’s looking forward to.
Directed by Tim Jackson, this exciting new musical focuses on the life of 11-year-old Barry Bennett who is sick of his parents and despises his name. Alongside “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”, his name is the number one thing he blames his parents, Susan and Geoff, for.
When Barry wishes for a better mum and dad, the story takes a wonderfully bold and fantastical turn. Barry finds himself transported to an alternate universe – the United Kid-dom – where the kids get to select their own parents with the special assistance of staff at the Parent Agency. It’s like a dream come true…until Barry realises that choosing a new mum and dad is a lot harder than it sounds.
This show is a must-see for anyone who is (or has been) a child; for anyone who is (or has had) at least one parent/ caregiver, and definitely, for anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry. Witty, enlightening and charmingly outlandish, this show is for everybody.
David Baddiel’s award-winning debut novel – The Parent Agency – celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 and has sold over 355,000 copies worldwide to date. With a collection of critically acclaimed children’s books under his belt, Baddiel has won some of the highest accolades in children’s literature – including the Scholastic UK’s Laugh Out Loud Award for The Parent Agency. We’re thrilled that this hilarious family musical springs to life on Storyhouse’s stage.
Of the musical, David Baddiel told us, “I’m so happy that my first children’s book The Parent Agency is going to be made into a musical. It’s a book that kids tell me they love, including now young adults who first read it years ago. It takes a very real child on a very magical journey that seems to really suit big musical moments – and these have been brilliantly provided by the genius that is Dan Gillespie-Sells, who’s been a total joy to work with.”
Set to receive a West End transfer, The Parent Agency is a hot ticket for 2025. Get booked in now and be one of the first to see this phenomenal show in Chester.
