The Ruby in the Smoke facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Philip Pullman |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Fred Booth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Sally Lockhart series |
| Genre | Mystery, young adult novel |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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1985 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 200 pp |
| ISBN | 0-19-271543-7 |
| OCLC | 59171883 |
| Followed by | The Shadow in the North |
The Ruby in the Smoke is an exciting mystery novel written by the famous English author Philip Pullman. It was first published in 1985. This book is the very first story in the popular Sally Lockhart series. The series continues with The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, and The Tin Princess. This thrilling book was also made into a TV film in 2006 and a stage play in 2016.
TV Show Adaptation
The Ruby in the Smoke was turned into a TV film by the BBC. It was written by Adrian Hodges and starred Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart. The film first aired on BBC One on December 27, 2006. Over 7 million people in the UK watched it!
This TV film is also special because it was the first time Matt Smith appeared on TV. He later became very famous for playing The Doctor in the TV show Doctor Who, which Billie Piper also starred in.
At one point, the BBC planned to make TV shows for all four Sally Lockhart books. However, as of 2015, there hasn't been any news about a TV show for The Tiger in the Well.
Meet the TV Show Cast
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played in the TV film:
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Billie Piper | Sally Lockhart |
| Julie Walters | Mrs Holland |
| JJ Feild | Frederick Garland |
| Matt Smith | Jim Taylor |
| Hayley Atwell | Rosa Garland |
| Chloe Walker | Adelaide |
| David Harewood | Matthew and Nicholas Bedwell |
| Robert Glenister | Samuel Selby |
| Elliot Cowan | Henrick Van Eeden |
| Miles Anderson | Major Marchbanks |
Stage Play Adaptation
In the summer of 2016, The Ruby in the Smoke was adapted for the stage. Madeleine Perham wrote and directed this play. It was performed at The Pleasance during the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. Philip Pullman, the author, even gave his approval for the play!
The play ran for the whole month of August and was a big success. Critics loved it! The Scotsman newspaper said it was "a compelling tale, and full of surprises." Another reviewer gave it five stars, calling it "one of the most enjoyable hours" at the festival. Broadway Baby, a local review website, said the show "delighted in its Victorian setting" and was "an excellent piece of storytelling."
The stage show was created by a new theatre company called Reprint Productions (now known as Escapade). Six actors played many different characters in the show. The cast included Rebecca Lenihan, Sydney Austin, Tris Hobson, Martin Coates, Hamish Forbes, and Madeleine Golding. Madeleine Golding also helped produce the show.
