Rising star Megan Ellis will take on the title role in the UK premiere of a hit musical based on the much-loved ABBA-flavoured 1994 Australian movie Muriel’s Wedding at Leicester Curve next spring.
Ellis (Spring Awakening, Rent, Carrie, Parade, Frogmore Paper Mill) will play Muriel Heslop in the production which will be directed by Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical’s original director Simon Phillips with choreography by Priscilla’s Andrew Hallsworth.
Commenting on her latest role, Ellis said: “This is such a ‘pinch me’ moment – Muriel’s Wedding is one of my favourite films of all time and I could not be more excited to be working with such an incredible team and playing Muriel herself in this UK premiere at Curve!”
Ellis will be joined by Annabel Marlow (originator of the role of Katherine Howard in Six at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, The Wizard of Oz, Watermill Theatre) as Rhonda Epinstall – Muriel’s straight-talking friend, in the musical which will follow its award-winning Australian world premiere run by making its UK debut in Leicester from 10 April until 10 May 2025.
Announcing the first casting news for the production, Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said: “Curve has a solid record of celebrating upcoming actors on the cusp of big things, making debuts in leading roles with us here in Leicester. We are thrilled Megan Ellis is making her Curve bow in the iconic role of Muriel Heslop. Megan’s comic brio is matched with her electrifying voice and she is joined by the equally sensational Annabel Marlow as Rhonda. Together, they lead a tremendous company in this all-singing, all-dancing celebration of finding the courage to be your authentic self.”
Featuring a book by the writer and director of the original film, PJ Hogan, who updated his original screenplay for the musical, and original music by award-winning, multi-platinum-selling artists Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, the musical also includes additional songs originally written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
Set design is by Matthew Kinley, with costume design by Gabriela Tylesova, projection design by Andrzej Goulding, lighting design by Natasha Chivers and sound design by Adam Fisher. Isaac Hayward, who won the Helpmann Award for Best Musical Direction in 2018 for Muriel’s Wedding, will join the creative team as musical supervisor and casting is by Stuart Burt
Commenting on the Made At Curve production which will be co-produced with event musical specialists Global Creatures, director Phillips said: “I’m thrilled that the team at Leicester Curve have embraced Muriel Heslop with the same open heart as the rest of the world. Muriel’s misguided aspiration has never been funnier or on-the-moneyer, and now that it’s not just ABBA doing the singing, but the whole of Porpoise Spit, Sydney, and even the Olympic swimming team, her self-made journey to stardom has doubled the decibels. Curve has an enviable track record delivering exciting new musicals, and it’s a privilege to be adding Muriel to their list.”
Curve’s Stafford and Foster added: “We’re euphoric Muriel is leaving Porpoise Spit and coming to Leicester! We are looking forward to welcoming acclaimed Australian director Simon Phillips and his phenomenal team to Curve to create the UK premiere of this iconic film on stage, in this all-singing and all-dancing celebration of finding the courage to be your authentic self. It’s equally thrilling writer PJ Hogan has adapted his screenplay for the stage and this production, alongside the ABBA hits from the film, includes original music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall.
“Grab your Tim Tams and book your seats to RSVP for the wedding of the year at Curve in 2025!”
Winner of five Helpmann Awards, seven Sydney Theatre Awards, an Awgie Award, the 2018 David Williamson Prize and an ARIA Award Nomination, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical celebrated its world premiere in a co-production with the Sydney Theatre Company in November 2017 and returned with a successful Australian tour in 2019.
The story of the socially awkward Muriel Hislop, her love of ABBA songs and her dream of the perfect white wedding, captured the hearts of audiences across world. The emotional comedy/drama helped launch the international career of Toni Collette, whose performance as Muriel garnered her an Australian Film Institute Award, a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.