Review: Bugsy Malone returns to the Lyric Hammersmith

Bugsy Malone

Lyric Hammersmith

Reviewed on Wednesday 29th June 2016

★★★★

After its critical success last year, the Lyric Hammersmith's Olivier Award nominated Bugsy Malone returns to their main house for a second summer outing. Car chases, splurge guns and a vat full of glittery flapper dresses; there's a lot of fun to be had in Sean Holmes' production, and the kids are firmly at the forefront of it all.

Full casting announced for return of Bugsy Malone

Full casting has been confirmed for Sir Alan Parker’s Bugsy Malone which returns to the Lyric Hammersmith from 11th June 2016 for a limited 12 week run following its 2015 season. 

Starring a diverse range of talented young performers aged 9 and over, the lead roles will be performed by three different casts in rotation.

The 2016 Bugsy Malone cast sees the return of young performers from the 2015 production, alongside new faces including several talented youngsters making their professional debut.

The role of Bugsy Malone will be played by Mark Charles, Louis Doran and Adryan Dorset-Pitt; Blousey Brown will be played by Dayna Cherry Chapman Dixon, Tabitha Knowles and Georgia Pemberton; Tallulah will be played by Rhianna Dorris, Olivia Shaye Masterson and Leni Zieglmeier; Fat Sam will be played by Vincent Finch, Max Gill and Maddison Tyson; Dandy Dan will be played by Archie Barnes, Alesandro Bonelli and Oliver Emery; Fizzy will be played by Elliot Aubrey, Denzel Eboji and Mekai Manu; Lena / Babyface will be played by Emily Beacock, Jaydah Bell-Ricketts and Leah Levman.

Bugsy Malone returning to Lyric Hammersmith

It has been announced that Alan Parker’s Bugsy Malone will return to the Lyric Hammersmith for a twelve week run next summer.

The musical will re-open on 24th June (previews from 11th June) for a limited run to 4th September 2016.

Bugsy Malone has music and lyrics by Paul Williams and is directed by Sean Holmes. Casting to be announced.

Bugsy Malone re-opened the Lyric Hammersmith in April 2015 following a multi-million pound redevelopment and the creation of the Reuben Foundation Wing. It was the UK’s first professional stage production of Bugsy Malone in over a decade.

Bugsy Malone extends run at the Lyric Hammersmith

The Lyric Hammersmith's production of Bugsy Malone has extended its run to 5th September 2015. 

Directed by Sean Holmes, it is the UK’s first professional stage production of Bugsy Malone in over a decade.

Bugsy Malone has choreography by Drew McOnie with design by Jon Bausor, musical direction by Phil Bateman, lighting by James Farncombe, sound by Ben Harrison, casting by Will Burton CDG and children’s casting by Jessica Ronane CDG.

Review: Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith

Asanda Jezile as Tallulah

Bugsy Malone 
Lyric Hammersmith
Reviewed on Wednesday 29th April 2015
★★★

Marking its first professional UK staging in ten years, Sean Holmes' revival of Bugsy Malone reopens the Lyric Hammersmith following multi-million pound re-development work. Adapted from Alan Parker’s iconic 1976 gangster film, the piece takes place in Prohibition era New York.

Big Interview: Drew McOnie

Drew McOnie is currently one of the busiest choreographers working in British theatre. 

His current projects include a brand new touring production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. Starring Ashley Day and Charlotte Wakefield, Drew has worked alongside director Rachel Kavanaugh on the show.

He is also currently choreographing the new UK Tour of Hairspray which is directed by Paul Kerryson as well as the UK’s first professional stage production of Bugsy Malone in over a decade at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Drew’s other recent credits include: The Sound of Music and Chicago (both Leicester Curve), In The Heights (Southwark Playhouse), Little Red Riding Hood (National Youth Ballet), West Side Story (NYMT), 13 (Apollo Theatre), Laurel and Hardy (Watermill Theatre), James and The Giant Peach (UK Tour), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre) and Patience (Union Theatre).

He is also the founder of The McOnie Company for which his work includes: Drunk (Leicester Curve/Bridewell), Good Morning Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Making Midnight (Latitude Festival).

I recently spoke to Drew about taking on a show as iconic as Oklahoma!, why diversity plays such an important part of his career and what musical theatre songs he would want with him on a desert island… 

What was your relationship with Oklahoma! like before you were approached to choreograph this new production?

Well I think for any choreographer Oklahoma! is a pretty massive deal. Not least because as a show it offers the opportunity for real creativity, but also it provides a platform for dance which is incredibly narrative and important. For me personally it’s a very important show because when it first opened in 1943 it really changed the way that musicals were perceived, and in particular the way that dance in musical theatre was received. So any of us new choreographers owe a huge amount to Agnes de Mille (who choreographed the original production) for what she did and introduced into musical theatre. 

Casting announced for Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith

Casting has been announced for the Lyric Hammersmith's production of Bugsy Malone which opens on 28th April (previews from 11th April) and runs until 1st August 2015.

Based on Sir Alan Parker’s acclaimed film, Bugsy Malone will re-open the Lyric Hammersmith following a multi-million pound re-development. The Lyric’s Artistic Director Sean Holmes will direct the UK’s first professional stage production of Bugsy Malone in over a decade.

The production stars a diverse range of talented young performers aged 9 to 19. Three different casts will perform the lead roles in rotation. The full cast includes:

Open auditions to be held for new production of Bugsy Malone

It has been revealed that open auditions will be held for the Lyric Hammersmith's new production of Bugsy Malone on Sunday 26th October 2014.

An open casting call on the theatre's website reads: "Are you aged 9-15 years? Do you live in London? Can you dance, sing AND act? We are holding an Open Casting Day on Sunday 26 October. As a part of our search for the children who will play the roles of Bugsy, Tallulah, Blousey, Fizzy, Fat Sam, Dandy Dan and Lena, we want to hear from you!"

New production of Bugsy Malone to be staged at the Lyric Hammersmith

It has been announced that a new production of Bugsy Malone will run at the Lyric Hammersmith from 11th April 2015, marking the UK’s first professional stage production of the musical in over a decade. The production also marks the reopening of the Lyric Hammersmith following redevelopment work.

Bugsy Malone will be directed by the Lyric Hammersmith's Artistic Director Sean Holmes with choreography by Drew McOnie, design by Jon Bausor and musical direction by Phil Bateman.