THE cast of the Octagon's production of gigantic proportions has been revealed.

The theatre’s retelling of the classic Swift novel will be enjoyed in Bolton this summer in Queens Park.

It will feature familiar faces to the Octagon stage, who have stepped out as the theatre building is closed for redevelopment.

Actors include Michael Peavoy, who has been seen regularly on stage in the Octagon's 50th anniversary season, having starred in Hamlet and Jane Eyre, with his most recent outing being in the ambitiously staged musical Summer Holiday.

He also appeared in The Fall of The Master Builder at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Into the Woods at The Royal Exchange.

Also from the cast of Summer Holiday Robert Jackson and Alexander Bean rejoin the company for Gulliver’s Travels.

Robert Jackson was part of the cast of the Octagon’s 2017 record breaking festive show, A Christmas Carol.

Anne O’Riordan joins the cast having previously worked with Alexander Bean in the Octagon’s 2016 festive show Cinderella.

But taking the lead role will be a giant puppet of Gulliver that is eight metres tall and currently the largest puppet being made in the UK. The puppet is being constructed by Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge.

Throughout the production the cast will be joined by young performers and community companies culminating in the final scene that brings together local choirs from across Bolton in a colossal community collaboration.

Queens Park locations including the sunken garden, the duck pond and the amphitheatre will be transformed into the magical land of Lilliput with festoon lighting, flags and sail boats.

Audiences will meet at the Chorley New Road entrance to Queens Park and are encouraged to bring picnics or buy catering on site supplied by production partners Carrs Pasties and the Queens Park Café.

Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director at the Octagon Theatre, said: "As works on the Octagon theatre building are now underway we are setting sail on our outdoor adventures with Gulliver’s Travels.

"We wanted to offer the families that come to our festive shows an exciting and fun experience for over the summer. We invite Bolton and beyond to come and join us for singing, dancing and a visit to Lilliput’s Palace!

"The beautiful setting of Bolton’s Queens Park was the perfect choice for the tall tale of Gulliver Travels. Our brilliant partners at Queen’s Park Café, BATS, local choirs, Bolton Music Service, Carrs Pasties and Bolton Council have helped us make sure that it is going to be just as extraordinary as Summer Holiday on the buses!

It will be a big spectacle - we hope lots of people will want to come along and celebrate the final production of our 50th Anniversary Season after the sell-out success of Summer Holiday and our most impactful season to date."

The production will be co-directed by Octagon Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti and showing on evenings Thursday, August 16 to 27 at 7.15pm with a matinee performance on Saturday, August 25 at 2.15pm.

Ticket prices from £12 - £15.

For more information visit https://octagonbolton.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/gullivers-travels-1/