Gangsta Granny
Gangsta Granny info | |
Author | David Walliams |
---|---|
Illustrator | Tony Ross |
Publisher | Harper Collins[1] |
Publication date | 27 October 2011 |
ISBN | 978-0007371440 |
Preceded by | Billionaire Boy |
Followed by | Ratburger |
Gangsta Granny is a British children's comedy fiction book, written by David Walliams,[2] illustrated by Tony Ross and published by HarperCollins.[1]
Plot
Ben, a young boy, hates having to stay with his Granny every Friday because his parents go to see a dancing show named Strictly Stars Dancing.[3] He finds her boring and repetitive because his granny always feeds him cabbage-related dishes, most commonly cabbage soup, they are constantly playing Scrabble and her television hasn't been working since the 1980s. Ben loves plumbing and is a long-term subscriber to the magazine Plumbing Weekly, which he buys every week from Raj's shop. Ben's parents disapprove of him being a plumber though, - their ambition was for their only child to be a professional ballroom dancer.
One day, Ben calls his parents at Granny's house and asks them to take him home. Mum and Dad ignore Ben and disapprove of the proposal. It is suggested that his gran overhears the conversation as he cannot hear her snoring. The next morning, his granny seems somewhat depressed and crestfallen.[1]
That same morning, Ben is served boiled eggs by Granny, which Ben doesn't like, and flicks the egg gloop onto a window. So, Ben searches for a biscuit tin which he knows held some delicious chocolate biscuits. To his surprise, the tin feels much heavier than usual. Ben unscrews the lid and finds many diamonds, rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings clustered together in the tin. Ben hears Granny approaching and quickly puts the tin back and sits back down at the table.
While going home, Ben asks his parents if he can stay at Granny's again the next day (the jewels in the tin made him curious). To his surprise, Granny is going out the next evening...
Film adaptation
The book has been adapted into a 70-minute film for BBC One, which was shown on 26 December 2013.
Theatre adaptation
The book has also been adapted into a 130-minute theatre performance by the Birmingham Stage Company. The tour began on 10 November 2015 and will end on 21 January 2017.
- Cast
- Gilly Tompkins as Granny
- Ashley Cousins as Ben
- Laura Girling as Mum
- Ben Martin as Dad
- Umar Malik as Raj
- Alison Fitzjohn as Matron
- Richard James as Doctor
- Louise Bailey as Queen/Female Understudy
- Aaron Thirara as Male Understudy
References
- 1 2 3 Stephenson, Hannah (4 November 2011). "Walliams Suffering For His Gen Nerous Heart". Daily Post. High Beam. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ↑ "Gangsta Granny By David Williams - Review". The Guardian. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ↑ "Review: Gangsta Granny – David Walliams". BBC UK. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2013.