FOLLOWING a critically and publicly-acclaimed West End run over Christmas, Goodnight Mister Tom embarks on a UK Tour, including the Grand Opera House, in York.

The novel Goodnight Mister Tom is now a modern classic and celebrates its 35th anniversary year in 2016.

Michelle Magorian’s wonderfully uplifting tale is brought gloriously to life in this magical stage adaptation by David Wood. Set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable and heart-warming friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley.

Michelle was inspired to write Goodnight Mister Tom after hearing her mother’s tales about her time as a nurse in the war. Published in 1981, it has been translated into 11 languages and won awards in the UK, America and Australia. Her novel Just Henry won the Costa Award for children’s fiction in 2008, was adapted for television in 2011, and starred Sheila Hancock who appears briefly as her younger self in Michelle's latest novel, Impossible! Michelle is currently working with the composer Stephen Keeling on the musical Sea Change.

Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and commended for the Carnegie Medal, Goodnight Mister Tom is now a world-wide literary favourite and BAFTA award-winning TV film, starring John Thaw, and continues to inspire audiences and bring generations together.

David Troughton will play the central role of Mister Tom joined by an ensemble cast featuring Clark Devlin, Elisa de Grey, Guy Lewis, Simon Markey, Abigail Matthews, Jane Milligan, Martha Seignior, James Staddon, Melle Stewart, Georgina Sutton and Hollie Taylor.

David is currently playing the role of Tony Archer on BBC Radio 4’s long-running British contemporary rural drama, The Archers (since 2014). He has performed numerous times with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He is also a regular on TV where his appearances include Grantchester, Unforgotten and The Hollow Crown.

Six talented young performers perform the key roles of William and Zach. Joe Reynolds, Freddy Hawkins and Alex Taylor-McDowall alternate the role of William and Sonny Kirby, Harrison Noble and Oliver Loades alternate as Zach.

Goodnight Mister Tom is at the Grand Opera House, York, from Tuesday, March 29 to Saturday, April 2. To book, phone 0844 871 3024 or go to atgtickets.com/york

The Gazette & Herald has a family ticket for Goodnight Mister Tom at the Grand Opera House, York, on Tuesday, March 29.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question and send your answer, along with your name, address and daytime phone number, to Goodnight Mister Tom Competition, Gazette & Herald, 84-86 Walmgate, YO1 9YN, or email gazette@gazetteherald.co.uk, by Wednesday, March 16.

Question: Which anniversary is the novel Goodnight Mister Tom celebrating?

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