Ben Forster in Elf The Musical. Picture: Roy Tan
Ben Forster has been forced to pull out of the title role in the final week of Elf The Musical at The Lowry in Salford following an on-stage accident.
Forster, who returned to the role he originated in the production which is due to end its highly successful Salford run on 14 January, was rushed to hospital after falling during the matinee performance on 7 January.
Tweeting from his hospital bed on Sunday, he revealed he had broken his ankle and would not be able to continue in the role of Buddy the Elf. Thanking well-wishers, he went on to say: “Heartbroken to finish the Elf run early but you’re in safe hands with this wonderful cast and my brilliant understudy, Colin [Burnicle]. Many thanks to all at The Lowry Theatre and all the cast and crew who looked after me.”
Based on the instant Christmas classic film which starred Will Ferrell, the feel-good family favourite follows the fortunes of Buddy who heads for New York from Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole in search of his real dad.
Forster first played the stage Buddy in the UK premiere of Elf The Musical at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in 2014 followed by a West End transfer in 2015.
Starring opposite former pop star Liz McClarnon’s Jovie, the star’s latest run in the role began in Plymouth in November 2017. Directed and choreographed by Morgan Young, the production features former West End cast members Joe McGann and Jessica Martin reprising their roles as Walter and Emily Hobbs.
A live recording of the production was aired on Channel 5 over the Christmas period.
Elf features a book by the late Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin.
Angela Thomas
www.thelowry.com/events/elf-the-musical
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