Brian May will appear via video projection as the Newscaster/Chorus in the 25th anniversary touring production of Return to the Forbidden Planet
Full casting and tour dates have been revealed for the Olivier Award-winning Return to the Forbidden Planet, which is back in a major 25th anniversary production, launching from Brighton Theatre Royal on 20 January 2015 (press night is 21 January).
The tour has now been extended to May 2015 to include new dates in Darlington, Edinburgh, Wimbledon, Leicester, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Blackpool and Manchester.
Founding member of Queen and world-renowned guitarist Brian May will appear via video projection as the Newscaster/Chorus.
The cast features Steve Simmonds as Bosun, Sean Needham as Captain Tempest, Christine Holman as Science Officer, Greg Last as Navigation Officer, Mark Newnham as Cookie, Jonathan Markwood as Prospero, Frido Ruth as Ariel, Sarah Scowen as Miranda, Georgina Field as Anne Droid, Callum Hughes as Phil McCavity, Joseph Mann as Ewan Watami and Hannah Howcroft as Young Miranda.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Return to the Forbidden Planet is packed with rock‘n’roll classics including ‘Great Balls of Fire’, ‘This is a Man’s World’, ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’, ‘Who’s Sorry Now’, ‘Teenager in Love’, ‘Young Girl’, ‘Heard It Through the Grapevine’, ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and ‘Born to Be Wild’. This production boasts stunning special effects, a brilliant cast of actor-musicians, a mad scientist, a huge green-tentacled monster and a rock‘n’roller-skating robot.
Return to the Forbidden Planet opened at the West End’s Cambridge Theatre in September 1989, where it ran for more than 1,500 performances and won the 1990 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
The original design team return to re-create their award-winning original production, helmed by creator Bob Carton, who directed the West End production and now returns to direct this highly anticipated 25th snniversary tour, his final production as artistic director of the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.
Carlton said: “It was an incredible time when Return to the Forbidden Planet landed in the West End, in what was a vintage year alongside shows such as Miss Saigon and Buddy. And it’s thanks to the audiences, who took it to their hearts and rocked out every night, that it became such a cult success. I can’t wait to bring it back 25 years later, to introduce it to a whole new generation and to reunite with original fans of the show. I’m thrilled to be able to return to the Forbidden Planet, along with the original design team, and get reacquainted with Captain Tempest and his crew once more!”
Return to the Forbidden Planet is directed by Bob Carlton and choreographed by Frederick ‘Frido’ Ruth, with musical direction by Greg Last. It is designed by Rodney Ford, with lighting design by Mark Dymock and sound design by Ben Harrison.
www.ForbiddenPlanetReturns.com
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