The Parent Agency

Storyhouse, Chester 15 February to 2 March 2025

A brand-new British musical based on David Baddiel’s bestselling book, with music by Dan Gillespie-Sells (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), directed by Tim Jackson (Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York), premiering at Storyhouse, Chester in February 2025.

The Parent Agency – The Musical will appeal to anyone who is, or has been, a child.

And also, to anyone who is, or has had, at least one parent.

And definitely, to anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry.

Eleven-year-old Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things he blames his parents (Susan and Geoff) for along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”. So, he makes a wish for a better mum and dad and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternate universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the assistance of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.

For Barry, this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…