Billy Cullum joins Tyrone Huntley in the world premiere of Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith

Billy Cullum will star opposite award winner Tyrone Huntley in the world premiere of Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith early next year.

Cullum (Rent, UK tour; Matilda, West End), one of the stars of the recent Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, will join Huntley, who attracted acclaim for his performance as Judas Iscariot in the Open Air Theatre’s hit production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The actors will play the central characters in the production which focuses on the story of a young gay couple facing an uncertain future.

Part of Sean Holmes’ final season as artistic director of the prestigious London venue, the opening production of the spring 2019 season will run from 18 January until 16 February 2019 with a press night on Thursday 24 January.

Written by screenwriter Matt Jones with music by Kele Okereke, the lead singer of English rock band Bloc Party, Leave to Remain will be directed by Robby Graham and designed by Rebecca Brower.

The cast will also include: Emma Amos (The Lady in the Van, Bath Theatre Royal; Sweet Bird of the South, Chichester Festival Theatre); Aretha Ayeh, (Miss Littlewood, RSC; Barnum, Chichester Festival Theatre); Rakie Ayola (BBC’s Holby City; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, West End); Sandy Batchelor (Strangers on a Train, UK tour; High Society, The Mill At Sonning); Arun Blair-Mangat (Angels in America, National Theatre; Kinky Boots, West End); Cornell S. John (The Lion King, West End). Further casting will be announced at a later date.

The first song from Leave to Remain, ‘Not Drugs Talking’ written and performed by Okereke is available on iTunes and Spotify. The full album will be released on the show’s press night, Thursday 24 January 2019.

Commenting on the production when announcing details of his final season at the Lyric in September this year, Holmes said: “I’m especially excited by the potential of our first show of the season, Leave to Remain, a new play with songs.

“We have brought leading artists from different fields together – Matt is one of the UK’s leading television writers, Kele is an astonishing musical talent, both as a solo artist and with his band Bloc Party, Robby has a beautifully physical choreographic style and Rebecca is an exciting award-winning designer. They are creating something unique for us and I can’t wait to experience this truly special piece of work.”

Angela Thomas