The West End premiere of Life of Pi, Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s book, welcomed a host of new cast members September 7 at London's Wyndham's Theatre.
Nuwan Hugh Perera, formerly the alternate Pi, took over the title role with Chirag Benedict Lobo joining the cast as the new alternate Pi. Also joining the cast were Davina Moon as Ma, Ameet Chana as Father, Tanvi Virmani as Rani, Saikat Ahamad as Mamaji/Pandit-Ji, Sakuntala Ramanee as Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, Kevin Shen as Mr. Okamoto, Phyllis Ho as Lulu Chen, Kazeem Tosin Amore as Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Owain Gwynn as Puppeteer, and understudies Lilian Tsang and Mohit Mathur.
Original West End cast members remaining in the show include Tom Espiner as Father Martin/Commander Grant-Jones and puppeteers Daisy Franks, Romina Hytten, Tom Larkin, and Tom Stacy.
Check out new production photos below:
Kazeem Tosin Amore, Davina Moon, Ameet Chana, and Tanvi Virmani in Life of Pi
Company of Life of Pi
Company of Life of Pi
Company of Life of Pi
Sakuntala Ramanee, Kumar Tanvi Virmani, and Davina Moon in Life of Pi
Puppeteer Elan James in Life of Pi
Company of Life of Pi
Company of Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera in Life of Pi
Chirag Benedict Lobo in Life of Pi
Chirag Benedict Lobo in Life of Pi
Chirag Benedict Lobo with puppeteers Rebecca Killick and Tom Stacy in Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera in Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera and puppeteer Owain Gwynn in Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera and company of Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera and puppeteer Owain Gwynn in Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera and puppeteer Rebecca Killick in Life of Pi
Nuwan Hugh Perera in Life of Pi
Puppeteer Owain Gwynn and Nuwan Hugh Pererra in Life of Pi
Puppeteer Owain Gwynn, Ameet Chana, and Nuwan Hugh Perrera in Life of Pi
Puppeteers Rebecca Killick and Owain Gwynn in Life of Pi
Puppeteers Rebecca Killick and Elan James and company of Life of Pi
Puppeteers Rebecca Killick and Elan James, Nuwan Hugh Perera and Tom Espiner in Life of Pi
Life of Pi, which opened December 2, 2021, also recently announced that it has extended its run through January 15, 2023. When it closes, the production will have played almost 500 performances.
Future plans for the show include a North American premiere in December at Cambridge's American Repertory Theatre, an anticipated transfer to Broadway, and separate productions in Asia, Australia, and Mexico.
Life of Pi was awarded five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, in April.
Life of Pi begins after a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat—a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a 16-year-old boy, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.
Max Webster directs. The production also has set and costume design by Tim Hatley, puppet and movement direction by Finn Caldwell, puppet design by Nick Barnes and Caldwell, video design by Andrzej Goulding, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Carolyn Downing, music by composer Andrew T. Mackay, dramaturgy by Jack Bradley, casting by Polly Jerrold, associate direction by Leigh Toney, associate set design by Ross Edwards, associate puppet design by Caroline Bowman, costume supervision by Sabrina Cuniberto, and props supervision by Ryan O’Conner.
The 2012 film adaptation of Life of Pi won Academy Awards for its direction, cinematography, score, and visual effects.
