Hello Kitty to get own London theatre show for first time ever

The global phenomenon that is Hello Kitty is to get her own stage show for the first time in her 40-year history.

Since first appearing on a purse, the Japanese cartoon character, created by design company Sanrio, has become a merchandising icon worth billions of dollars, accumulating fans such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

Hello Kitty has no mouth — she is said to speak with her heart. Little is known about her other than that she was born in the London suburbs, her star sign is Scorpio, she is “around five apples tall” and her hobbies include baking cookies, playing piano, origami and “other cute things”.

But in her own show she will talk and fans can learn more about her.

Hello Kitty Live — Fashion & Friends will have its global premier at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on October 8, to be followed by a UK tour. The plot sees Hello Kitty, resident in today’s London, wanting to become a fashion designer and entering a talent show to fulfil her dream. Other characters include her best friend My Melody, boyfriend Dear Daniel, little sister Mimmy, and Bad Badtzu-Maru.

It features songs by Clean Bandit, James Blunt, Bruno Mars and Echosmith. A virtual Charli XCX, who is on the soundtrack too, also pays her a visit on a screen.

The show, directed by Richard Lewis — who was behind Peppa Pig Live — is especially targeted at children aged four to 10.

Francesco Fiore, managing director of production company Zen Tiger Live, said: “We’ve been talking about how good it would be to help Hello Kitty [go] from being an icon of merchandising to a celebrity.”

Tickets for the premiere and the tour go on sale on Friday July 7 at hellokittylive.com; livenation.co.uk; ticketmaster.co.uk

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