SHERMAN BROTHERS’ CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
TOUR CAST ANNOUNCED
FOR 2016-17 UK AND IRELAND TOUR
BEGINNING AT MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
ON 10 FEBRUARY 2016
Casting has been announced for the Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. The 2016-17 UK and Ireland tour begins at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 10 February 2016.
Caractacus Potts will be played by Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd) from 10 February until 24 April, and he will return to the show from 5 October 2016. Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) will play Caractacus Potts from 4 May until 18 September 2016.
Martin Kemp (EastEnders, The Krays) will play the Childcatcher and Amy Griffiths (Everyman, Stephen Ward, The Pajama Game) will play Truly Scrumptious, both until 24 April 2016.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG will also feature Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst until 24 April 2016, Michelle Collins (EastEnders, Coronation Street) as Baroness Bomburst, and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.
Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Matt Gillett, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O’Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for Mary Poppins, The Slipper and the Rose, The Aristocats and The Jungle Book. The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums.
The film made from Ian Fleming’s classic story has been adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture Licensed Script adapted by Ray Roderick.
This new production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG will be directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear. There will be a live orchestra with Musical Supervision by Stephen Ridley. Set and costume design is by Simon Higlett, lighting design is by Tim Mitchell, sound design is by Ben Harrison and video design is by Simon Wainwright.
There will be sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
This production is presented by permission of JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG will open with a previously announced cast at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on 2 December, with a national press night on Thursday 10 December, for a nine-week season finishing on 30 January 2016 prior to the new cast starting the UK and Ireland Tour. For more information, visit www.chittythemusical.co.uk
Facebook: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical
Twitter: @ChittyMusical / #chittymusical
LISTINGS INFORMATION for THE UK AND IRELAND TOUR
10–21 February Mayflower Theatre, Southampton www.mayflower.org.uk 02380 711811
24 February – 13 March Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie 0844 847 2455
16 – 27 March Grand Opera House, Belfast www.goh.co.uk/ 028 9024 1919
30 March – 9 April Regent Theatre, Stoke 0844 871 7649 www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre
13 – 24 April Cliffs Pavilion, Southend www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk 01702 351 135
4 – 14 May Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/
18 – 29 May Nottingham Theatre Royal www.trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
1 – 12 June Theatre Royal, Newcastle www.theatreroyal.co.uk 08448 112 111
15 – 19 June Theatre Royal Plymouth 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com
29 June – 17 July Sheffield Lyceum www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk 0114 249 6000
20 – 30 July New Wimbledon Theatre 0844 871 7646 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre
3 – 21 August Wales Millennium Centre www.wmc.org.uk 029 2063 6464
24 August – 3 September Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury www.marlowetheatre.com 01227 787787
7 – 18 September Birmingham Hippodrome www.birminghamhippodrome.com 0844 338 5000
21 September – 2 October Royal & Derngate, Northampton www.royalandderngate.co.uk 01604 624811
5 – 16 October Festival Theatre, Edinburgh www.edtheatres.com 0131 529 6000
19 – 29 October King’s Theatre, Glasgow 0844 871 7648 www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/
9 – 19 November New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 871 7645 www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/
Further tour dates to be announced