Little Miss Sunshine musical, Arcola Theatre

Little Miss Sunshine, the low-budget directorial debut of husband-wife pairing Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, was the (perhaps unexpected) hit of the year in 2006, nominated for four Academy Awards and earning over $100 million at the box office. The chemistry of the now well-known cast (including Steve Carell, Paul Dano and a young Abigail Breslin) made this tale of a dysfunctional family both intensely moving and incredibly funny.

Now, the film has been adapted for the stage, coming to the Arcola Theatre this spring before embarking on a UK tour. The production marks the European debut of the musical comedy from Tony-Award winners James Lapine and William Finn, which premiered in San Diego before a 2013 Off-Broadway run. The show tells the tale of the Hoover family, a lovable collection of misfits who are forced to confront their differences when young daughter Olive is invited to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The entire family, including Olive’s mute brother and heartbroken uncle, piles into a run-down yellow campervan to get her the 800 miles from New Mexico to California, facing up to their problems on the way.

This uplifting tale reminds us of the importance of overcoming and celebrating our differences. Casting is not yet announced, but the imaginatively-staged 'road musical' promises to be worth a visit. As the Arcola quite rightly says: “In uncertain times, we all need a little bit of Sunshine”.

Booking now open.