The Bed and Breakfast Star Stage Adaptation Announced!

Jacqueline Wilson’s iconic book, The Bed and Breakfast Star is coming to the Polka Theatre and Mercury Theatre Spring 2027!

In a Cardboard Citizens and Polka Theatre co-production, in association with the Mercury Theatre and presented in partnership with Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness, the trailblazing story explores this complex issue from a child’s perspective.

Adapted for the stage by Emma Dennis-Edwards and directed by Chris Sonnex, the brand new adaptation will be for children aged 8 to 13 and runs at the Polka Theatre from 25 March to 25 April 2027 and at the Mercury Theatre from 29 April to 2 May 2027. Further tour dates will be announced.

“The Royal hotel was not very Royal at all. Don’t reckon them lot in Buckingham palace would think much of this gaff!”

Ten-year-old Elsa loves to use her voice to make people laugh – she dreams of becoming a famous comedian one day. Even when her family is evicted from their home and forced to live in a run-down Bed and Breakfast, she’s determined to see the bright side. It’s going to take all her comedic superpowers to lighten up the lives of her new friends and family in the not-so-royal hotel, but Elsa won’t let that stop her.

When life takes another unexpected turn, Elsa must use her voice to save the hotel residents and discovers there might still be room to dream big.

Tickets are on sale now at the Polka Theatre and can be purchased here.

The Haworth Agency handles the film, TV and stage rights to Jacqueline Wilson’s novel The Bed and Breakfast Star, working in conjunction with David Higham Associates.

Copyright © Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt 1994. Published by Puffin Books.