Niamh Perry to star in first London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Ben Elton’s The Beautiful Game at the Union Theatre

It has been announced that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s The Beautiful Game will receive its first London revival at the Union Theatre over 12 years after it was seen in the West End.

Niamh Perry will star in the production which opens on Tuesday 8th April (previews from 3rd April) and runs until Saturday 3rd May 2014.

The Beautiful Game originally opened at the Cambridge Theatre in September 2000 and ran until September 2001. During its run the show was awarded Best Musical at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

Niamh Perry (Mary) most recently played Johanna in Sweeney Todd at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Manchester Royal Exchange. Her other recent credits include: A Song Cycle for Soho at Soho Theatre, the title role in The Little Prince at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, Kim in the Boy George musical Taboo at Brixton Clubhouse, Sophie in Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre and originating the role of Fleck in Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre. Niamh was a finalist in BBC talent show I’d Do Anything.

The cast also features Ben Kerr as John, Stephen Barry as Del, Daniella Bowen as Christine, Freddie Rogers as Thomas, Will Jeffs as Daniel, Alan McHale as Ginger, Natalie Douglas as Bernadette and Carl McCrystal as Father O’Donnell as well as Tom Brandon-Farrell, Leigh Lothian, Shane McDaid, Joanna O’Hare and Charlie Royce.

John and Del are just two regular teenagers who dream of nothing more than girls and football. And under the watchful eye of their local soccer team coach Father O’Donnell, they both show enough promise to pursue careers as professional footballers. But as political tensions begin to engulf their community, they have more than the fortunes of their team to worry about. 

Set against the backdrop of the political troubles in Northern Ireland in the early 1970’s, The Beautiful Game is the story of an ordinary group of teenagers in an extraordinary situation. With a stirring and evocative score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, this powerful and passionate musical is a joyous celebration of the freedom that love can bring.

The Beautiful Game will be directed by Lotte Wakeham, currently Associate Director of Matilda in the West End and on Broadway. It will be choreographed by Tim Jackson, whose recent work includes Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory/Harold Pinter Theatre.

Musical direction will be by Ben Holder and design by David Shields. The musical supervisor will be Tom Kelly with casting by Will Burton. It is produced by Kylie Vilcins for PTM Ltd.

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