Aaron Sidwell and Louise English join Blockbuster the Musical

Aaron Sidwell joins the cast of Blockbuster the Musical which begins a short tour on 11 September at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Aaron Sidwell and Louise English are joining Suzanne Shaw and Paul Nicholas in the world premiere of Blockbuster the Musical, which features the chart-busting hits of the songwriting team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who dominated the pop world in the 1970s and 1980s. The book’s author is David Soames, who co-wrote the musical Time for Cliff Richard, which ran for two years in the West End at the Dominion Theatre.

Best-known for playing the troublesome Steven Beale in BBC soap EastEnders, actor Aaron Sidwell will play the lead character of Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in present day Soho, who is sent back in time to 1972 to perform two good deeds. Sidwell has just finished a tour of the UK as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet. His musical theatre credits include the lead role in Cool Rider: Live (Lyric and Duchess Theatres), Michael Dork in Loserville – The Musical (Garrick Theatre), Ham in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales), Jack in Carnaby Street (UK tour) and Kyle Gibson in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

Louise English (Alice) has played many leading roles in musical theatre. She created the role of Rosa opposite David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair in two national tours and a West End season at the Garrick Theatre. She spent two years in the West End as Sally Smith in Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), was Nancy in Oliver! (Kuala Lumpur), Grace Farrell in Annie (national tour), Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! (national tour), Louise in Gypsy (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) and Bella Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes the Musical (Bristol Old Vic and national tour).

Blockbuster the Musical begins in 2014 with Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in London’s Soho. Mickey has borrowed money to buy a car. Unfortunately, he crashes it without insuring it and is being pursued by Charlie Daz, a loan shark to whom he owes money. Taking refuge in Crazy Max’s Retro Record shop, Mickey meets Max (Paul Nicholas), a mystical figure, who discovers Mickey has problems and tells him he can turn his life around if he performs two selfless deeds within seven days. With Charlie Daz in hot pursuit, Mickey has nothing to lose and agrees.

The rest of the cast are: Blair Anderson, Michael Antony, Ami Atkinson, Grace Holdstock, Vickie Hoyles, Alim Jayda, Lee Honey-Jones, Tom Millan, Tom Murphy, Carla Nella, Rosie O’Hare, Micha Richardson and Ryan Ridley.

Blockbuster the Musical is to get its world premiere at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford from 11-20 September. It will then tour to the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, (22-27 September) and Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon (29 September to 4 October), before embarking on a UK tour in 2015.

The musical features classic hits by Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, Tina Turner and Mud, including ‘Ballroom Blitz’, ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Tiger Feet’, ‘Devil Gate Drive’, ‘Some Girls’, ‘Lay Back in the Arms of Someone’, ‘Living Next Door to Alice’, ‘Teenage Rampage’, ‘Kiss You All Over’, ‘Oh Carol’, ‘Better Be Good to Me’, ‘Lonely This Christmas’, ‘Mickey’ and many more.

Polly Sisley

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