Claire Sweeney will take over the role of Irene in the national tour of the Watermill Theatre’s acclaimed production of the George and Ira Gershwin musical Crazy For You.
Sweeney joins Tom Chambers who plays Bobby and Charlotte Wakefield who plays Polly from 16 January 2018 at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. The actress has a television and theatre career which spans over 20 years. She is probably best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside.
Sweeney’s West End roles include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. The actress previously played the title role in Educating Rita at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and prior to that, played Paulette in the UK tour of Legally Blonde. She most recently appeared as Baroness Bomburst in the national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Tom Chambers created the role of Jerry Travers in the West End musical Top Hat, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2008 he won the sixth season of Strictly Come Dancing. His recent stage credits include Private Lives and White Christmas in the West End. He can currently be seen in the hit BBC drama Casualty.
Charlotte Wakefield made her West End debut as Wendla in Spring Awakening, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. She also played Maria in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her other theatre credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia! in the West End, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Laurey in Oklahoma!, both on national tour.
The cast is completed by Caroline Flack as Irene, plus Arthur Boan, Daniel Bolton, Hollie Cassar, Neil Ditt, Kate-Anne Fenton, Cristopher Fry, Stacey Ghent, Matthew James Hinchliffe, Kieran Kuypers, Kate Milner-Evans, Emma Jane Morton, Kate Robson-Stuart, Ned Rudkins-Stow, Seren Sandham-Davies, Mark Sangster and Abi Casson Thompson.
From the producers of Sister Act and Nativity! The Musical, Crazy For You is directed by the Watermill’s artistic director, Paul Hart, with musical arrangements by Catherine Jayes (The Color Purple, Broadway).
It is choreographed by Nathan M. Wright (High Society, Old Vic) and is designed by Diego Pitarch (The Addams Family). Lighting design is by Howard Hudson (In The Heights) with sound design by Tom Marshall (Legally Blonde).
The show has music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, book by Ken Ludwig, and co-conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent. It is inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan.
The tour visits: Theatre Royal, Plymouth (17-26 August 2017); Wales Millennium Centre (5-9 September); Theatre Royal, Newcastle (12-16 September); Theatre Royal, Nottingham (3-7 October); Bristol Hippodrome (10-14 October); Glasgow Kings Theatre (17-21 October); Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (7-11 November); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (21-25 November); Manchester Opera House (28 November-2 December); Liverpool Empire (5-9 December).
The production is presented by Jamie Wilson and Gavin Kalin.
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Crazy For You – Watermill Theatre, Newbury – Review
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