Awful Auntie proving a big hit with fans

​An extra performance has been put on of David Walliams’ Awful Auntie at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal.

The children’s favourite will be performed from Wednesday to a week on Sunday, including an extra matinee show at 3pm on Sunday due to demand.

The production, by Birmingham Stage Company, follows the successful stage adaptation of another David Walliams book, Gangsta Granny, last year.

It is the first time Awful Auntie has been staged.

David Walliams said: “The Birmingham Stage Company’s Gangsta Granny is truly brilliant, so I am hugely excited that they are now bringing Awful Auntie to the stage.

“It promises to be a thrilling show and a total hoot — Wagner and I cannot wait to see it.”

Awful Auntie tells the story of Stella, who, when she set off to visit London with her parents, had no idea her life was in danger.

Waking up from a coma three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell Stella what has happened — but not everything Aunt Alberta says turns out to be true.

Stella quickly discovers she is in for the fight of her life against her very own Awful Auntie.

It is a tale of frights, fights and friendship that features a very old car, a very large owl — Wagner — and a very small ghost.

Awful Auntie was published in September 2014 and stayed at number one in the children’s book chart for seven weeks.

Combined sales of the hardback and paperback have reached 950,000.

Walliams started his publishing career at Harper Collins in 2008 with his debut novel The Boy In The Dress. Since then he has written nine more books and five picture books.

Two towering figures of television and showbusiness come together for an evening of reminiscence and entertainment at the Theatre Royal on Sunday.

Jimmy Tarbuck and Des O’Connor have decades of experience in the industry, including appearances at the Royal Variety Performance.

Accompanied by music and video, the pair will look back on their long careers and the people they have worked with.