Picture: Claire Bilyard
First pictures have been released of actor Matthew McKenna in the specially designed suit that will turn him into the stage incarnation of British comic book creation Bananaman who will bring his own eccentric brand of crime-fighting style to the Southwark Playhouse later this month.
The real-life version of the print Bananaman suit has been designed by the show’s set and costume designer Mike Leopold and tailor-made by Robert Allsopp & Associates, the leading prop and costume designers who have worked on major screen productions including the X-Men movies and Dr Who.
Commenting on how it feels to wear the costume which includes a distinctive yellow cape made from a fabric usually found in luxury Italian sports cars, Glaswegian actor Mckenna said: “The suit is amazing to wear but I drink four litres of water a day as part of my fitness regime – and that is going to be a big problem!”
McKenna heads a cast that includes Marc Pickering as Doctor Doom; Jodie Jacobs as Eric’s loyal sidekick, Crow; Mark Newnham as Eric; Carl Mullaney is General Blight, TJ Lloyd as Chief O’Reilly, Lizzii Hills as Mrs Wimp, Brian Gilligan as Mad Magician, and Emma Ralston as Fiona. Chris McGuigan and Amy Perry make up the ensemble.
Following on from a special industry-only reception early last year, Bananaman The Musical will play its debut run at the South London venue from 15 December until 20 January 2018 with a press night on 4 January.
Produced by SightLine Entertainment with Beano Studios, the show which takes the much-loved character from the page to the stage has been written by Leon Parris, the award-winning writer and composer of the musicals Stig of the Dump and Monte Cristo.
Bananaman The Musical will be directed by Sightline Entertainment founder Mark Perry who heads a creative team which includes musical supervisor Alan Berry, with Grant Murphy serving as assistant director and choreographer.
Bananaman burst into action in the short-lived Nutty comic in 1980, he then transferred to The Dandy before taking up residence in The Beano in 2012. The original comic strip was written and developed by Dave Donaldson and Steve Bright and drawn by John Geering.
Intended as an affectionate send-up of superheroes like Batman and Superman, the character was brought to the small screen in a BBC cartoon series in the 1980s featuring the voices of The Goodies: Tim Brooke-Taylor; Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie.
Angela Thomas
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