LONG before Harry Potter ever went to Hogwarts, children were reading about the adventures of an ordinary child at a very magical school, and the good news is, The Worst Witch is coming to Malvern Theatres.

A spokesman said: “The all-female cast has been confirmed for the world premiere production of The Worst Witch, touring to Malvern Theatres from Tuesday March 12 to Saturday March 16.

“This is an original story for the stage by Emma Reeves (Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s TV Programme and 2017 British Screenwriters Award for Best Children’s Programme) based upon Jill Murphy’s beloved series of classic novels The Worst Witch. The production will be directed by Theresa Heskins (2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People) and designed by Simon Daw, with music by Luke Potter.”

The spokesman added: “The Worst Witch is the story of an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident-prone Mildred Hubble and her fellow pupils leave a trail of mayhem behind them as they find themselves at the centre of a battle that’s being fought for their future.

“The show features magic, puppetry, original music and plenty of Mildred’s unique brand of utter pandemonium.”

Playing the hapless Mildred Hubble is Danielle Bird, whose recent stage credits include The Hypocrite (Royal Shakespeare Company/Hull Truck) and Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe).

Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch stories have sold more than five million copies and been made into films and TV series by HBO, ITV and CBBC.

Jill said: “My first trip to the theatre aged four, opened up a magical world - so real to me, that I had to be restrained from climbing onstage to help the children in peril! My mum was quite cross with me, but I never wanted the show to end and sang the songs loudly all the way home on the bus. Imagine how proud I feel, all these years later, seeing my own Mildred Hubble on stage.”

Box Office 01684 892277 and online at malvern-theatres.co.uk.