The Twits, Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★

Below is our preview, giving background information about the show. Click here to read out Twits review.

The Twits: Roald Dahl's yuckiest story?

“ If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it ."

All the ugly thoughts that have shaped Mr and Mrs Twit shine out in a mess of tangled, food-crusted beard, an eerie glass eye and hideously gnarled features. This disgusting pair hate each other: Mr Twit goes to elaborate lengths to convince his wife that she's suffering from the 'terrible shrinks'; she retaliates by serving something slimy and slithery that certainly is not spaghetti. But they are even more vile to others, particularly their pet monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps. In true Roald Dahl pizazz, this gruesome twosome get their comeuppance as their victims revolt and leave Mr and Mrs Twit in a very sticky situation...

Enda Walsh's adaptation

This much loved children's book is adapted and brought to life on the Royal Court stage by esteemed Irish playwright Enda Walsh. He has a golden touch with texts; his musical adaptation of Oscar-winning film Once went on to dazzle on Broadway and win momentous eight Tony awards, a Grammy and six Olivier nominations. His most recent play, Ballyturk at the National Theatre, starring Cillian Murphy was a stunning sellout success -- but deeply reflective and intellectual. We're fascinated to see how this ever-imaginative writer will update and enliven Dahl's story and turn his talent to captivating younger audiences.

The Twits: Royal Court cast

The pugnacious pair will be played by Jason Watkins and Monica Dolan. Mr Twit (Jason Watkins) is a familiar face from TV dramas including The Last Honour of Christopher Jeffries and The Wrong Mans. His film roles in comedies including Confetti show a flair for humour and Watkins has impressed on stage too, scooping an Olivier nomination in A Servant for Two Masters (Young Vic, 2001). Mrs Twit (Monica Dolan) is also an experienced actor, who won a BAFTA for playing Rosemary West in TV drama Appropriate Adult. Dolan's currently on screens playing Tessa Wall in the BBC adaptation of J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy. 

John Tiffany: director with plenty of imagination 

Royal Court Associate Director John Tiffany will direct. Having won numerous awards, and been at the helm of blockbuster shows such as Let the Right One In (currently playing at the Apollo), and the acclaimed broadway production of The Glass Menagerie, Tiffany brings a wealth of experience. This is not his first time working with playwright Enda Walsh; the two collaborated with much success in the staging of Once. He is no stranger to captivating children's productions, either, having directed Peter Pan at the National Theatre of Scotland.

We are excited to see how the Royal Court explores and presents the rich potential for costuming and staging that The Twits offers. With such vividly imagined characters this story has the scope to become a visual and dramatic spectacle.