Matthew White and Sarah Earnshaw to star in Payback: The Musical at Riverside Studios

Sarah Earnshaw

Payback: The Musical (written by Paul Rayfield), a love story which unfolds within the world of daytime television, will open at Riverside Studios on 14th June (previews from 12th June) and run until 30th June 2013. The show is described as a "satirical new musical" and will star Olivier Award winning actor Matthew White and West End star Sarah Earnshaw. 

Fresh and funny, this new musical, with a sharp, original script and catchy score, recaptures the excitement of the very best traditional musicals. A new performance for the stage amongst re-writes, this 2016 tale of love stretches from Brazil to England. Featuring a blend of jazz, latin and traditional ballads, it’s is a wry, contemporary look at today’s celebrity and story hungry media culture. 

A young orphaned couple from Rio’s favelas, who are struggling financially with their internet cafe, enter Payback, a paternity TV show in England. The government has privatised paternity claims and Payback aims to track down errant fathers and pay the injured party compensation. But the reality TV show is not quite reality, and the young couple are in danger of being nothing more than a solution to diving ratings, a soft target for the cynical and manipulative host, Matt Matthews, and a distraction to the government’s inability to deal with paternity claims. 

Director Simon Greiff said: “Over the last four years I have been at the forefront in helping to develop new writing, working closely with the UK writers & composers of new musicals. Payback is a rare thing - an original British musical. Paul Rayfield has created a wonderfully satirical story, with great songs, that will make you question the state of celebrityville & how 15 minutes of fame comes at a cost." 

The cast includes Sarah Earnshaw who recently played The Lady of the Lake in the West End producion of Spamalot. She has also been in the West End productions of Wicked and Scrooge and will star as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Aberysywth) later this year. 

Katie Bernstein has just completed the UK concert tour of Rent and Alan Vicary’s credits include Me and My Girl (Adelphi), Les Miserables (Palace) and Phantom of the Opera (national tour). The company includes Adam Murray, currently the associate choreographer on Wicked. 

Matthew White’s acting credits include Ragtime (Piccadilly - 2004 Olivier nomination - Best Supporting Actor), Chicago (Adelphi), Phantom of the Opera (2009, Her Majestyʼs), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (1993, Shaftesbury), Les Miserables (Palace) and Cinderella (2007, Old Vic). Television and film includes: Law and Order UK (ITV), Doctor Who (BBC), Judge John Deed (BBC). 

His directing credits include Top Hat (Aldwych - three 2013 Olivier awards, including Best New Musical), Sweet Charity (2009, Menier Chocolate Factory/Theatre Royal, Haymarket), Little Shop of Horrors (2006, Menier Chocolate Factory/Duke of Yorkʼs), The Last Five Years (2006, Menier Chocolate Factory), Maria Friedman - By Special Arrangement (1994, Donmar Warehouse) and Closer Than Ever (Jermyn Street). 

Visit www.paybackthemusical.com for further information and tickets.

Follow @West_End_Frame