GARTLAND PRODUCTIONS AND CHRIS MAGUIRUE ANNOUNCE CAST FOR EUROPEAN PREMIÈRE OF HEAD OVER HEELS

GARTLAND PRODUCTIONS AND CHRIS MAGUIRUE ANNOUNCE CAST FOR EUROPEAN PREMIÈRE OF HEAD OVER HEELS

Gartland Productions and Chris Maguire today announce the cast for the European première of Head Over Heels at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester set to the music of the iconic 1980’s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s.  Luke Bayer leads the cast as Musidorus, alongside Alison Driver (Ensemble) Iz Hesketh (Pythio), Jenny O’Leary (Pamela), Daniel Page (Dametas), Maiya Quansah Breed (Philoclea), Samuel Routley (Ensemble), Khadija Sallet (Mopsa), Julie Stark (Gynecia), Marina Tavolieri (Ensemble), Timo Tatzber (Ensemble), and Fed Zanni (Basilius). The production opens on 1 February 2023,with previews from 26 January, running until 4 March.

This fantastically queer juke box musical was adapted from The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia written by Sir Philip Sidney in the 16th century. It had its world première in June 2015 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, after which it was adapted by James Magruder and his version opened in San Francisco 2018. It is also notable for starring Peppermint (PoseRuPaul’s Drag Race) – who was the first trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway.

Director Tom Jackson Greaves said today: “We’re so excited to introduce you to the cast of Head Over Heels – each individual bringing such a glorious breadth of talent, generosity and go-go spirit to the production. I am so buzzing to dance; sing and tell stories with them and Manchester is In for a real treat.”

Gartland Productions and Chris Maguire co-present

HEAD OVER HEELS

Based on ‘The Arcadia’ by Sir Philip Sidney

Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty

Adapted by James Magruder

Songs by The Go-Go’s

26 January – 4 March 

Director and Choreographer: Tom Jackson Greaves; Musical Director: Arelene McNaught

Casting Director: Lucy Casson; Set and Costume: Sophia Pardon; Lighting Designer: Jamie Platt

Luke Bayer (Musidorus); Alison Driver (Ensemble); Iz Hesketh (Pythio); Jenny O’Leary (Pamela); Daniel Page (Dametas); Maiya Quansah Breed (Philoclea); Samuel Routley (Ensemble); Khadija Sallet (Mopsa); Julie Stark (Gynecia); Marina Tavolieri (Ensemble); Timo Tatzber (Ensemble); and Fed Zanni (Basilius).

This laugh-out-loud love story is including the hit songs, We Got the BeatOur Lips Are SealedVacation, Belinda Carlisle’sHeaven is a Place on Earth, and Mad About You.

A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.

Head Over Heels is presented through special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, 7 Penn Plaza, Suite 904, New York, NY 10001, www.broadwaylicensing.com.

Luke Bayer plays Musidorus. His theatre credits include, RENT (Hope Mill Theatre), Hair (London Palladium), I Could Use a Drink (Garrick Theatre), Fiver, The Great Gatsby (Southwark Playhouse), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), Soho Cinders (Charing Cross Theatre), Yank! (Hope Mill Theatre), The 12 Tenors (China Tour), and Les Misérables 20th Anniversary (Queen’s Theatre). His television credits include Ackley Bridge, and The X Factor.

Alison Driver, Ensemble and Dance Captain. Her theatre credits include What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep), RENT (Hope Mill Theatre), Love Story (Cadogan Hall), and Paw Patrol Live Race to The Rescue (UK tour).

Iz Hesketh plays Pythio. Their theatre credits include Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), RENT (Hope Mill Theatre), and The Book of Mormon (UK tour).

Jenny O’Leary plays Pamela. Her theatre credits include Groundhog Day (The Old Vic), RENT (UK tour), The Secret Garden (The Barn Theatre), Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket, and The Other Palace). Her television credits include Gangs of London; and film credits, Matilda and Unicorns.

Daniel Page plays Dametas. His theatre credits include My Kingdom Is a Horse (Rose Theatre Kingston), Billy Elliot – The Musical (UK tour), The Producers (Gordon Craig Theatre) Players Music Hall (Charing Cross Theatre), Priscilla, Queen of The Desert (NCL), and The Wind in The Willows (Kew Gardens/Australian Shakespeare Company). His television credits include Simply MusicalsMusicoolThe Royal ButlersNightmare Situation,and  Worzel Gummidge; and for film credits include ReaperIll ManorsBetter Than TomorrowChasing CharlieVandalisOpen MicOpen Your EyesThe HeistKill Ben Lyk, and Snow White.

Maiya Quansah Breed plays Philoclea. Her theatre credits include RENT (Hope Mill Theatre), and Six: The Musical (Arts Theatre), The Secret Garden (London Palladium), I Could Us a Drink (Garrick Theatre) and The Love Revue and Starry (Stanley Arts).

Samuel Routley, Ensemble. His theatre credits include Priscilla, Queen of The DesertThe Osmonds (UK tour), and West Side Story (Ljubljana Festival).

Khadija Sallet plays Mopsa. Her theatre credits include Last Life (Edinburgh Fringe), The Amen Corner (West-coast Black Theatre), HairRagtime (AxelRod Theatre), In the Heights (West-coast Black Theatre), Legally Blonde (Sarasota Players Theatre), and James and The Giant Peach (Venice Theatre).

Julie Stark plays Gynecia. Her theatre credits include The Lesson (Icarus Theatre), Bat Out Of Hell (Dominion Theatre), RapunzelThe Producers (Gordon Craig Theatre), Priscilla, Queen of The DesertLes Misérables (UK tour), Sleeping Beauty (Wakefield Theatre Royal), Chess – The Musical (Aberystwyth Arts Centre), Love Story (Duchess Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Manchester Opera Hose), and Shout! (Arts Theatre). Her film credits include Les Misérables.

Marina Tavolieri, Ensemble. Her theatre credits include Mother Goose (Hackney Empire), Sister Act (Eventim Apollo, London), and A Chorus Line (Leicester Curve).

Timo Tatzber makes his professional stage debut in the ensemble.

Fed Zani plays Basilius. His theatre credits include Mamma Mia! The Party (O2), The 12 Tenors (European tour) Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical (New Wimbledon Theatre), and The Night of The Iguana (Noel Coward Theatre). His television credits include DeliciousBeing HumanHotel BabylonShakespeaRe-Told and Afterlife, and for film The Girl in The Café.

Tom Jackson Greaves is a theatre maker based in the UK, specialising in creating cross-art-form, collaborative work with movement at its heart. Greaves is an Associate Artist at The Watermill Theatre, and he has won the 2012 New Adventures Choreographer Award. As a director his credits include Whistle Down the Wind and The Jungle Book (The Watermill Theatre), Brother (Southwark Playhouse), Extraordinary Women, Lucky Stiff (GSA), High Fidelity (Turbine Theatre) and Run For Your Life (Kneehigh).  His credits as choreographer/movement director include The Book Thief (Bolton Octagon), The Da Vinci CodeZog and The Flying Doctors, Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK tours), Rent (Hope Mill Theatre), Amélie (The Other Palace), King John (RSC), , Miracle on 34th StreetPaint Your WagonFiddler on the Roof (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), The AudienceBillionaire Boy (Nuffield Southampton), MacbethSweet CharityMidsummer Night’s DreamTwelfth NightThe BorrowersRomeo and Juliet (The Watermill Theatre), Spring Awakening (Hope Mill Manchester), Teddy (The Vaults/UK tour), Boudica (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Peter and the Starcatcher (Royal and Derngate), The Glass Menagerie (Headlong) and The Crocodile (MIF)

Listings

Hope Mill Theatre

Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard Street, Manchester, M4 7JA

Box Office: 0161 275 9141 (Tuesday to Friday 12:00pm-6:30pm)

https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/

Performances: 

Tuesday – Sunday at 7:30pm

Matinees 2:30pm on Wednesday & Saturday and 5:00pm Sunday https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/head-over-heels

Gartland Productions/Liam Gartland is a commercial theatre producer based in London. In 2021, Liam was named one of the ‘Rising Stars of the West End’ after producing Drew Gasparini’s ‘I Could Use A Drink’ at The Garrick Theatre. 

Previous productions include; Daddy Issues (Seven DIals Playhouse), LIFT (Southwark Playhouse) Tell Me Straight (King’s Head Theatre) and A Song For Christmas (Iris Theatre). 

In 2020, Liam co-founded and is the Executive Director of The Grad Fest, an award winning company providing performance opportunities and support for recent theatre graduates. The Grad Fest were awarded a ‘ONEOFF Special Award’ for their dedicated work through the pandemic supporting theatre graduates and were nominated for the ‘Recognition Award’ by Industry Minds. 

Liam is proudly supported by Stage One, a charity that supports new UK Theatre producers. Having attended the Stage One New Producer’s Workshop in 2021, the following year he went on to be a recipient of the  Stage One Bursary.

gartlandproductions.com

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