'The Thorn Birds' to be staged as musical in Britain

Melbourne, Jan 5 (ANI): Australian author Colleen McCullough's epic novel 'The Thorn Birds' will be staged as a musical in Britain this year.

McCullough, 71, had at first refused to let her popular love story be adapted into a stage play, but she has now agreed to let it be staged in Britain, with English theatre director Michael Bogdanov directing it.

"It is going to be a challenge to suggest that sense of loneliness on the stage, but I can see how we can do it," the Age quoted Bogdanov as telling the Observer.

"Expectations are going to be very high, but I have been determined to get the right narrative structure," he stated.

McCullough agreed to the musical only after German composer and opera star Gloria Bruni sent her some songs that she had written, after being inspired by the story.

The two started collaborating on the content of the play, and then contacted Bogdanov, who travelled to McCullough's remote Norfolk Island home to work on the dialogue.

Welshman David Emmanuel, who designed Princess Diana's wedding gown, is designing the costumes for the show's 18-strong cast.

The Thorn Birds will open for previews at Swansea Grand Theatre in Wales on April 3 and 4 before touring the UK, the WalesOnline website reported. (ANI)