The X Factor’s Seann Miley Moore will join Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe, deaf street dancer Chris Fonseca and Let It Shine singer Matt Knight in a new hip hop musical re-working of the classic The Wind in the Willows from the award-winning Metta Theatre.
Written and directed by Metta’s artistic director Poppy Burton-Morgan (Jungle Book, UK and international tour), with music from award-winning composer Pippa Cleary (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole) and ground-breaking hip hop composer Keiran Merrick, In the Willows is due to go on the road next month.
Based on Kenneth Grahame’s timeless novel, the musical will open at the Exeter Northcott on 22 February 2019 ahead of a UK tour which is due to last until 1 June.
As previously announced West End favourite Rowe will play Badger alongside Fonseca as Otter, Knight as Chief Weasel, hip hop dancer Kloe Dean as Owl and Katherine Picar as Bitchy Rabbit. Australian Moore who appeared on the ITV talent show in 2015 will play Duck.
The cast will also include: Victoria Boyce who will make her professional debut as Mole, Abiola Efunshile as Owl, Treasure Iyamu as Twitchy Rabbit, Harry Jardine as Toad and Zara Macintosh as Rattie.
Announcing details of the production last year, on behalf of the show’s co-producer Exeter Northcott Theatre, artistic and executive director Daniel Buckroyd added: “After three years working with Metta as an associate company here at the Northcott, we’re thrilled to be co-producing their extraordinary new musical – when I heard an early sing-through I knew this was going to be something special – a quintessentially English family tale brought bang up-to-date with a brilliant hip hop score – as if someone had spliced Matilda with Hamilton!”
With support from the Arts Council Strategic Touring Fund, In the Willows features set and lighting design by William Reynolds, costume design by Ryan Dawson Laight and choreography by Rhimes Lecointe. The production will incorporate British Sign Language (BSL) into the choreography and BSL interpretation will be a part of every performance.
One of the UK’s leading mid-scale touring companies, Metta has previously won praise for their street dance Jungle Book and circus musical Little Mermaid.
Angela Thomas
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