First casting revealed for Drew McOnie's Strictly Ballroom

Full casting has been announced for Drew McOnie's production of Strictly Ballroom.

Gemma Sutton and Sam Lips will lead the cast as Fran and Scott.

The production will also star Tamsin Carroll as Shirley, Stephen Matthews as Doug, Julius D’Silva as Barry, Richard Grieve as Les, Eve Polycarpou as Abuela, Charlotte Gooch as Tina, Lauren Stroud as Liz, Jade Albertsen as Vanessa, Liam Marcellino as Wayne, Gary Watson as Ken, Michelle Bishop as Pam, Richard Dempsey as JJ / Merv and Zak Nemorin as Terry / Clarry.

The cast is completed by Courtney-Mae Briggs, Javier Cid, Selina Hamilton, Luke Jackson, Rebecca Lisewiki, Lindsay McAllister, Freya Rowley, Javier Santo, Alexzandra Sarmiento and Dale White.

Drew McOnie to direct & choreograph new production of Strictly Ballroom

Drew McOnie will direct and choreograph a new production of Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's musical version of Strictly Ballroom.

The Australian musical will open at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds on 6th December 2016 (previews from 30th November) and run until 21st January 2017.

Terry Johnson is joining the creative team to adapt the original book.

McOnie says: "The film Strictly Ballroom has had such a huge impact on me. It inspired me as an 8-year-old dancer to follow my choreographic instinct and gave me the desire to explore the many different ways of communicating ideas through dance.

GOSSIP: Strictly Ballroom & Elf The Musical coming to the West End?

According to the Daily Mail, Baz Luhrmann is "exploring ways" to bring Strictly Ballroom to the West End.

The show, which is based on the 1992 movie,  received a run in Sydney earlier this year and is about to play in Melbourne. Baz Bamigboye reports that if a theatre can be found, Strictly Ballroom could open in the West End in 2015 or early 2016.