Review: Hairspray (UK Tour) at the Churchill Theatre Bromley

Hairspray (UK Tour) 
Churchill Theatre Bromley
Reviewed on Tuesday 3rd May 2016
★★★

Juxtaposing some serious issues such as equality, racism and bullying with catchy tunes, big hair and cheesy grins galore, Hairspray is an exhilarating show with a powerful message.

Paul Kerryson's new production of Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan's musical premiered at the Leicester Curve in 2014 and I absolutely adored it. Kerryson's production returned the following year to launch a UK tour.

Hairspray extends UK tour into 2018

It has been confirmed that following its current UK tour, Hairspray will return at the end of summer 2017 to once again tour the UK. 

This second tour will visit venues across the country until the spring of 2018. Casting, dates and locations for the 2017/18 tour will be announced in due course.

Producer Mark Goucher said: “I am delighted that after seeing this new production of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have personally extended the rights to the show, in order for us to embark upon a second UK tour. 

Matthew Rickson taking over as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray UK tour

Matthew Rickson will join the cast of the UK tour of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad from 15th March 2016 at New Victoria Theatre in Woking. 

Hairspray embarked on a major UK tour in 2015 and continues into 2016 visiting Aberdeen, Sheffield, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Inverness, Bristol, Woking, Cardiff, Norwich, Milton Keynes, Llandudno, Plymouth, Canterbury, Bromley, Stoke and Southend.

Rickson’s recent theatre credits include The Producers (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe(Royal Shakespeare Company), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), Cinderella (Richmond Theatre), Casa Valentina (Southwark Playhouse), The Ladykillers (New Vic Theatre & UK Tour), Around The World in 80 Days (New Vic & Royal Exchange Theatre), Aladdin(Wimbledon Theatre), See How They Run (York Theatre Royal), The Legend of King Arthur (York Theatre Royal), Aladdin (Theatre at the O2 Arena) and The Governess (UK Tour).

GOSSIP: Producer wants West End transfer for Hairspray UK tour

Mark Goucher, who is currently producing the UK tour of Hairspray, has revealed to West End Frame that he wants the musical to transfer to the West End next year.

“I am desperately trying to get the writers to allow us to bring this new production into London next year” Goucher said, “My cast are phenomenal and absolutely deserve to be seen in London. I hope it happens!”

Goucher explained the tour is “obviously a little more economical than the original production” and that “in the right theatre it could sit down and just run for a very long time”.

Hairspray is currently playing a Christmas residency at Birmingham Alexandra Theatre as part of its 25 venue UK tour which began in September this year. The production is directed by Paul Kerryson, with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson. The show has music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Interview: Producer Mark Goucher

Mark Goucher is currently producing the UK tours of Hairspray and Alan Bennett's Single Spies as well as Slava’s Snowshow at the Royal Festival Hall which has returned to London for its fifth consecutive festive season.

A celebration of theatrical clowning, the atmospheric show combines the unbridled silliness of slapstick with visual extravagance and beauty, all of which has established its creator, Slava Polunin, as a creative genius of international acclaim.

Mark is on the Board of SOLT and on the Board of the League of Independent Producers. He produced his first show in 1987 at the Edinburgh Fringe and in the West End In 1991.

Just a small selection of his previous productions include: Jeeves and Wooster (Duke Of York’s), Taken At Midnight (Chichester/West End), A Chorus Line (London Palladium), The King's Speech (UK tour), Oh What A Lovely War (UK tour), Pygmalion (UK tour), Yes Prime Minister (West End/UK tour), Crazy for You (Novello), High Society (Shaftesbury), Footloose (Novello) and RENT (Prince Of Wales).

I recently spoke to Mark about why London audiences love Slava’s Snowshow, wanting to bring Hairspray back to the West End and his theatrical highlights of 2015…

Slava's Snowshow is back for its fifth consecutive Christmas season in London! Originally, why did you decide to get behind the show?

I remember when the show started at the Edinburgh Festival – I was working there – and it was a huge phenomenon. Then it came to the West End and then it went to Broadway. However, afterwards there was a big gap because they were so busy and didn’t have time to come back to London. 

Five years ago the Royal Festival Hall was available over Christmas and we thought Slava’s Snowshow was a good fit for it because it’s quite arty and it obviously has a Christmassy feel about it. The show is performed around the word at any time of the year, even in countries where it never snows at all! We have this peculiar thing in Britain about Christmas shows and pantomimes – you could say this is a slightly posh people’s panto [laughs]. 

Big Interview: Brenda Edwards, starring as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray

Brenda Edwards is currently starring as Motormouth Maybelle in the new UK tour of Hairspray.

Also starring Tony Maudsley, Freya Sutton, Claire Sweeney and Peter Duncan, the show opens at the Leicester Curve tonight (9th September) before visiting 25 venues across the UK including a Christmas residency at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre.

Brenda famously finished fourth on the second series of The X Factor. She went on to make her West End debut as Mama Morton in Chicago, later reprising her performance for the 10th anniversary gala.

Brenda is well known for playing Killer Queen for five years in Ben Elton and Queen’s musical We Will Rock You. She first played the character in We Will Rock You’s first UK tour in 2009. The following year she transferred to the West End production at the Dominion Theatre where she played Killer Queen until the show closed in 2014.

Her theatre credits also include playing Pearl Pastor in Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall and Diane Steed in The Human Comedy at the Young Vic. Ben Elton also cast Brenda as Mrs Johnson in his BBC1 sitcom The Wright Way, marking her TV acting debut.

I recently spoke to Brenda about why playing Motormouth is a new challenge, how she feels about taking on one of the musical’s biggest songs and whether she would want to step back into Killer Queen’s shoes if We Will Rock You were to return…

Motormouth is such an incredible role! Have you always had your eye on it?

Yes, I actually had my eye on it when it was in the West End. I went to the final audition and was told I was too young! As soon as it first went in to the West End I wanted to play that part. I had my audition with David Grindrod (West End casting director), but I think it was good because it would have been my first role out of Chicago. I was kind of new to the West End scene so there was a lot of learning that I needed to do – but I think I’m ready for it now. Being a mother myself, I can totally relate to the character. I have two very strong minded independent children!

Sneak peek at... UK tour of Hairspray

Promotional images have been released for the upcoming UK Tour of Hairspray. Tony Maudsley stars as Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week tour which will open at Curve Theatre in Leicester this autumn. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

The cast also includes: Claire Sweeney as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan as Wilbur Turnblad, Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle, Freya Sutton as Tracy Turnblad, Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud as Amber, Monique Young as Penny, Karis Jack as Little Inez, Adam Price as Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn as Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams as Duane. 

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 Hairspray UK Tour

First casting has been announced for the upcoming UK Tour of Hairspray.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1’s Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week UK tour which will open at Curve Theatre in Leicester this autumn. 

He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita/Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (Birdsong) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago/We Will Rock You) as Motormouth Maybelle. 

Curve's production of Hairspray embarks on UK Tour next year!

It has been announced that the Leicester Curve Theatre's production of Hairspray will embark on a UK Tour next year.

The production will be launched at the Curve on 15th September 2015 (previews from 9th September) where it runs until 19th September. Paul Kerryson directs with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson.

Kerryson's production of Hairpsray ran at the Curve earlier this year to huge critical acclaim starring John Barr, Rebecca Craven, Sophie-Louise Dann, Tyrone Huntley, Claudia Kariuki, Zizi Strallen and Vicki Lee Taylor. Casting for the tour is yet to be announced. 

Review: Hairspray at the Leicester Curve Theatre

Hairspray
Leicester Curve Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 22nd March

It's funny to think that Hairspray only premiered on Broadway in 2002 as it feels like one of those classic musicals which has been around since time began. Following its Olivier Award winning West End run, Hairspray has toured the UK several times, but now a brand new production has been staged at the renowned Leicester Curve Theatre.

Big Interview: Leanne Jones

Next month Leanne Jones will reprise her performance in Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory which receives a concert staging at the Phoenix Artist Club between Saturday 8th and Wednesday 19th March 2014.

Leanne previously starred in the world premiere of Paul Boyd's musical at the Lyric Theatre Belfast and subsequent season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012. It was originally planned for Boyd's musical to receive its London première at the Hackney Empire last September. However, the run was cancelled last minute when an investor pulled out.

Leanne won Best Actress in a Musical at the Olivier Awards in 2008 for her portrayal of Tracy Turnblad in the West End premiere of Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. 

Her theatre credits also include: Saucy Jack and The Space Vixens (Leicester Square Theatre), The Sunny Side Of The Street (Jermyn Street Theatre), Bedroom Farce (New Wolsey Theatre), You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Tabard Theatre) and Tick Tick Boom (Union Theatre). She was recently seen auditioning for will.i.am, Kylie Minogue, Sir Tom Jones and Ricky Wilson on BBC1 talent show The Voice.

I recently spoke to Leanne about her return to Molly Wobbly, what people can expect from the show and why she thinks it has the potential to become a cult classic as well as the incredible response she received after performing on The Voice, why auditioning for the talent show was an interesting experience, Hairspray and the highs and lows of her career…

What made you want to return to Molly Wobbly?

Timing, and wanting to support the project massively. I was doing Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens last summer and it was really weird because they were flyering outside our show and then a day or two later it all went tits up – pardon the pun - and I felt really sad for them, especially my friends in the cast and Paul – it was devastating for them. So when I heard it was coming back and they were doing this concert version I was like “if I can make it work I’ll be there”.

Interview: Rebecca Craven, starring as Tracy Turnblad in Leicester Curve's Hairspray

Rebecca Craven is currently preparing to star as Tracy Turnblad in Paul Kerryson’s all-new production of Hairspray which opens at the Leicester Curve next week.

Hairspray is a musical which needs no introduction. The show first opened on Broadway in 2002 where it won eight Tony Awards out of thirteen nominations and ran for over 2,500 performances before transferring to the West End in 2007. The film adaptation starring John Travolta and Zac Efron was a huge worldwide commercial hit and remains one of the most successful musical movies of all time.

Best known for starring as Rhiannon Salt in BBC1’s Waterloo Road, Hairspray marks Rebecca’s professional musical theatre debut. The actress chats to West End Frame about Hairspray rehearsals, how she’s making such an iconic role her own and what it has been like to receive such tremendous support from fans of Waterloo Road…

How are Hairspray rehearsals going so far? Is the show starting to take shape?

Rehearsals for Hairspray are going really well. The big production numbers are coming together amazingly and the show is looking great! I’m so thrilled to be a part of the cast at Curve and I’m learning so much from the incredibly talented cast every day.

Full casting announced for Leicester Curve's Hairspray

© BBC / Shed Productions (WR)

Full casting has been announced for Paul Kerryson's new production of Hairspray at the Leicester Curve Theatre.

Joining David Witts as Link Larkin is: John Barr (Wilbur Turnblad), Samara Casteallo (Little Inez), Rebecca Craven (Tracy Turnblad, pictured right), Sophie-Louise Dann (Velma Von Tussle), Tyrone Huntley (Seaweed), Claudia Kariuki (Motormouth Maybelle), Zizi Strallen (Penny Pingleton), Vicki Lee Taylor (Amber Von Tussle), Callum Train (Corny Collins) and Damian Williams (Edna Turnblad).

The cast also includes: Michelle Andrews (Ensemble), Lucy Ashenden (Ensemble), Charlie Bull (Ensemble), Joseph Connor (Ensemble), Matt Gillet (Ensemble), Matt Jones (Ensemble), Cleopatra Joseph (Dynamite), Jasmine Kerr (Dynamite), Sorelle Marsh (Female Authority Figure), Ryan Pidgen (Male Authority Figure) and Sharon Wattis (Dynamite).

Eastenders actor David Witts to star in Leicester Curve's Hairspray

It has been announced that Eastenders star David Witts (pictured right) has been cast in Leicester Curve's new and ambitious production of Hairspray. 

The popular musical, featuring music by Marc Shaiman, opens next year on 5th March (previews from 28th February) and runs until 5th April 2014. The production will be directed by Paul Kerryso and choreographed by Lee Proud with musical direction from Ben Atkinson.

David Witts will play Link Larkin. He trained with the National Youth Music Theatre and the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. He can currently be seen as Joey Branning in BBC’s Eastenders – a role for which he won Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 2013, and Best Newcomer at the TV Choice Awards 2013.

Theatre Gossip: A Chorus Line to close at the end of August

According to various online sources, A Chorus Line will close on 31st August 2013. The production was previously booking until 4th January 2014. It is rumoured that the cast were told earlier today, before the news broke online. Producers are yet to comment and officially confirm the closure.

Simon Cowell's X Factor musical (called 'I Can't Sing The Musical') begins previews at the Palladium in February 2014, it is currently unknown what production will fill the gap. However, there have been rumours that the touring production of Hairspray could transfer to the theatre for a limited season. Please remember nothing has yet been confirmed.

X Factor's Marcus Collins joins Hairspray 2013 UK Tour as Seaweed

X Factor's Marcus Collins has joined the cast of the 2013 UK tour of Hairspray. He joins previously announced Mark Benton and Lucy Benjamin. The tour kicks off at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre in February 2013.

Collins, who was runner-up in the 2011 series, said: "I can’t express how thrilled I am to be joining the tour of Hairspray. It’s been a pretty amazing year for me and now to be cast in my dream role feels like a great new part of the adventure. Having trained in musical theatre since my early teens I’m just itching to get into rehearsals now and so excited to be working with Mark, Lucy and the rest of the company. Roll on February."

Lucy Benjamin joins upcoming Hairspray UK Tour!

Lucy Benjamin as Velma Von Tussle
Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning

The producers of Hairspray have announced that EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin will join leading man Mark Benton on the show’s forthcoming UK tour, which opens at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre in February next year. 

Lucy Benjamin will play the role of scheming TV executive and archetypal ‘showbiz mom’ Velma Von Tussle (played on film by both Debbie Harry and Michelle Pfheiffer) and is joined by previously announced stage and screen star Mark Benton as Edna and Freya Sutton as big-hearted, big-haired teen heroine Tracy Turnblad.

Lucy Benjamin said: “Hairspray is an absolute dream come true for me. I’m so excited to be returning to my musical theatre roots and to be cast in one of the biggest and best shows around, well, it was worth the wait! I’m a huge fan of the films and loved the show in the West End. Velma is a great character too, a piece of work of course but she’ll be a wonderful challenge and to play opposite Mr Mark Benton, he’s the icing on the cake!” 

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! 

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.