MEET CHITTY - Saturday 9 September 2023

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is visiting Nottingham in September before she takes flight in October half-term as part of Nottingham Operatic Society’s 130th Anniversary production of the famous movie musical featuring the flying car.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is stopping by for a quick meet and greet with some of the cast of the show and her many fans.

From 11 am to 1 pm on 9 September she will be on Theatre Square outside the Theatre Royal before moving to the Victoria Centre Clock Tower from 1.30 pm to 3 pm.

The car is a replica, lovingly recreated from the original film version of GEN II, by theatre musician Rob Alderton of ChittyHire with help from vintage car engineer Phil D’Archambaud, and though she can’t fly she retains all her magic.

And if people are unable to visit her in Nottingham on 9 September, she’ll be visiting the Welbeck Estate on 7 October to celebrate a new exhibition of John Burningham’s Bedtime Stories. Burningham created award-winning children’s stories such as Borka and Avocado Baby, and illustrated Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the novel by Ian Fleming which will be celebrating its 59th birthday just before the Nottingham Operatic Society production begins.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang also has a wonderful connection to Nottingham, as the original film car was designed by Ken Adam and Frederick Rowland Emett OBE.

Rowland Emett is the ingenious designer of the Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator or, as it is more affectionately known, the Emett Clock which has sat proud in Victoria Centre since 1973. While Chitty won’t be able to visit her sibling directly on her visit, Nottingham Operatic Society is delighted to be bringing the two so close together for the first time.

On from 25 to 28 October 2023 at the Theatre Royal Nottingham – the Nottingham Operatic Society’s 130th Anniversary production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Tickets are now on sale via the Theatre Royal Nottingham on 0115 989 5555 or www.trch.co.uk