Review: Matt Cardle joins Beverley Knight in Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Memphis The Musical

Shaftesbury Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 16th July 2015

★★★★★

Last October I was blown away when Memphis The Musical first opened its doors at the Shaftesbury Theatre. 

David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's musical - which is inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee - came to London following a three year run on Broadway, during which it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. 

Telling a story of forbidden love, the casting of the two leads is vital to the show's success. Producers struck gold by casting soul queen Beverley Knight, fresh from her West End debut in The Bodyguard, as aspiring singer Felicia Farrell alongside renowned West End actor Killian Donnelly as radio DJ Huey Calhoun. The duo set the stage on fire and received Olivier Award nominations for their performances. 

As Memphis enters its final months, Donnelly has departed the production to prepare for his new role in Kinky Boots. Therefore Knight has handpicked Matt Cardle, the latest X Factor winner to make his West End debut, as her new Huey. 

Full casting announced for Memphis

It has been announced Rolan Bell (Delray), Tyrone Huntley (Gator), Claire Machin (Gladys), Jason Pennycooke (Bobby) and Mark Roper (Mr Simmons) will star in the West End premiere of Memphis.

The join the previously announced Beverley Knight (Felicia Farrell) and Killian Donnelly (Huey Calhoun).

Memphis, winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, has Grammy® Award-winning original score by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and book by Joe DiPietro.

The cast also includes: Keisha Atwell, Arielle Campbell, Mark Carroll, Joseph Davenport, Momar Diagne, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Kimmy Edwards, Hillary Elk, Laura Ellis, Charlotte Gorton, Benjamin Harrold, Waylon Jacobs, Rachel John, Dean Maynard, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Tim Newman, Simon Ray-Harvey, Jon Robyns, Ashley Rumble, Kyle Seeley, Helen Siveter, Dawnita Smith and Alex Thomas.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.