Stephen Mear joins creative team of The Girls by Gary Barlow & Tim Firth

Leading West End choreographer Stephen Mear (Gypsy/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) has joined the creative team of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's musical adaptation of Calender Girls as "musical stager".

The Girls recently premiered at the Leeds Grand Theatre and is about to play its second out-of-town tryout at The Lowry in Salford where it runs between 13th and 30th January 2016. 

The creative team for The Girls also includes Robert Jones (design), Tim Lutkin (lighting), Terry Jardine & Nick Lidster (sound) and Richard Beadle (musical direction). Co-writer Firth has directed the production.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to launch new UK Tour

It has been confirmed that Stephen Mear will choreograph a new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with direction from James Brining and design by Simon Higlett.

The new production will premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on 10th December 2015 (previews from 2nd December) where it runs until 30th January 2015. The show will then transfer to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 10th February 2016 to launch a UK Tour. Further dates and casting will be announced shortly

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for Mary Poppins, The Slipper and the Rose, The Aristocats and The Jungle Book. The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums.