The Royal Exchange Theatre has announced the full cast for the regional premiere of multi-award-winning Fun Home.
Based on Alison Bechdel’s well-received memoir published in comic book form in 2006, Fun Home features music by prolific theatre composer Jeanine Tresori with a book and lyrics by playwright Lisa Kron.
Due to play the Manchester venue from 3 July to 1 August, the production will star Jodie McKee (A Taste of Honey, Royal Exchange Theatre, Anatomy of a Suicide, Royal Court Theatre) as Alison Bechdel alongside winner Nigel Harman (Shrek, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Guys and Dolls, Piccadilly Theatre) as Alison’s father, Bruce Bechdel.
The cast will also include Alice Audrey O’Hanlon (Billy Elliot, Victoria Palace, Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre) as Medium Alison, with the role of Small Alison shared by Lillie Babb (Till The Stars Come Down, National Theatre, Miracle on 34th Street, HOME Manchester), Felicity L.J. Moore (Love Life, Leeds Grand Theatre, Les Misérables, Leeds Grand Theatre) and Harriet O’Shea (Miracle on 34th Street, HOME Manchester).
Natasha Cottriall (Into the Woods, Royal Exchange Theatre, Henry VIII, Globe Theatre) will play Joan, with Alex Young (Standing At the Sky’s Edge, Sheffield Crucible/National Theatre, Stranger Things, Phoenix Theatre) as Helen Bechdel and Lucca Chadwick-Patel (Mean Girls, Savoy Theatre, Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Roy/Bobby/Mark/Pete.
Reggie Kempson (Les Misérables, world tour), Finley Litchfield (professional stage debut) and Reuben Shepherd (professional stage debut) will be playing the role of John at alternate performances, while Arthur Lyons (Peter Pan, PHA Pantomimes), Morris McKinley (professional debut) and Theo Wake (Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre, Oliver!, Leeds Playhouse) will share the role of Christian.
The cast is completed by Jennifer Caldwell (Pinocchio, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, SIX The Musical, UK, Ireland and Korea tour/Arts Theatre/Vaudeville Theatre) as offstage cover for Alison, Medium Alison, Helen and Joan, and Alfie Richards (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, UK tour, Treason, London Palladium/UK tour) as offstage cover for Bruce and Roy/Bobby/Pete/Mark.
Directed by former Royal Exchange artistic director Sarah Frankcom as part of the Royal Exchange Theatre’s 50th anniversary Homecoming season, the creative team also includes choreographer and intimacy director Jenni Jackson, music supervisor Matthew Malone, designer Peter Butler, lighting designer Bethany Gupwell, sound designer Tony Gayle, associate director Emma Baggott and casting director Natalie Gallacher (for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting).
Fun Home premiered at The Public Theater in New York in 2013, ahead of a critically acclaimed Broadway run which garnered five Tony awards in 2015, and a successful US national tour a year later.
Angela Thomas
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