Hairspray set for 2013 UK tour

After all the recent news of shows closing I was delighted to wake up to some positive news this morning! It has been announced that Hairspray will once again tour the UK and Ireland throughout 2013! Mark Benton will lead the cast as Edna Turnblad. The tour will officially open at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre on Wednesday 13 February. It is also going to visit Liverpool, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds and Belfast. The rest of the cast is yet to be announced.

Hairspray opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London in October 2007 to universal critical acclaim. The show won Best Musical at the Olivier Awards, the Evening Standard Awards, the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice awards, the Critics' Circle Awards and the Variety Club Showbiz Awards! In 2010 the multi-award winning production hit the road, visiting theatres throughout the UK and Ireland. Almost two million people have seen this incredible show since its West End debut, and now you have the chance to enjoy the happiest, funniest, sunniest show in town during this strictly limited 2013 tour. 

This is what Mark had to say about his new role “I can't wait to start Hairspray, it's going to be amazing fun and an interesting challenge for me as it's my first adventure into the world of musicals...that I get to go on that adventure playing a Baltimore housewife is an added bonus! As a musical I think it has everything, great songs, great script, really interesting story and lots and lots of laughs...I hope!” 

Hairspray's producer, Rebecca Quigley, said “Just the mention of Hairspray guarantees a huge smile from anyone you talk to and we felt it was high time that people across the country get to see Tracy, Edna, Wilbur and the gang again. Hairspray is one of the most warm-hearted, positive and joyous musicals I’ve had the pleasure of working on and the smiles have got even bigger now we know our cast will be lead by the incalculably talented Mark Benton” 

It's 1962, the 50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion - dancing. She wins a spot on the local TV dance programme, The Corny Collins Show and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetting hair-hopper like Tracy get her massively shy Mom out of the apartment, beat evil Amber to be crowned Miss Hairspray, integrate Corny's show for good AND win the heart of local heartthrob Link Larkin, all without denting her super high 'do'? If anyone can, Tracy can!

Visit www.hairspraythetour.com to find out more and to book tickets.