Benjamin Purkiss will reprise his performance in the title role of Christian Durham’s production of Zorro The Musical when the innovative production makes its eagerly-anticipated debut at London’s Charing Cross Theatre next month.
The alternate Strat in the original Manchester Opera House and Dominion Theatre production of Bat Out of Hell, Purkiss (Allegro, Southwark Playhouse) will play Diego/Zorro in the immersive actor-musician production which begins previews at the London venue on 2 April 2022 ahead of an opening night on 12 April.
Purkiss will star opposite Paige Fenlon (Pretty Woman, Savoy Theatre) as Luisa with Alex Gibson-Giorgio (Rags The Musical, Park Theatre) returning as Ramon; Phoebe Panaretos (Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Australian tour) as Inez; Marc Pickering (Baskerville! Mercury Theatre, The Toxic Avenger, Southwark Playhouse) as Garcia; and Pete Ashmore (The Jungle Book/A Christmas Carol, Watermill Theatre) as Don Alejandro.
Returning ensemble members include Ajjaz Awad (How Not to Drown, Traverse Theatre); Amy Bastani (professional stage debut); Isabel Bates (Oh, What A Lovely War!, Oldham Coliseum); Ben Boskovic (The Exonerated, Hope Mill Theatre); Maxwell Griffin (professional debut); Matthew Heywood (Beryl and Seagulls, Bolton Octagon); Jessica Pardoe (The Happy Prince, The Place Theatre); and Stylianos Thomadakis (Thorn of Acacia, White Bear Theatre). The ensemble is completed by Matthew Bugg (Miss Nightingale, UK tour/Vaults/Hippodrome Theatre) and Hannah Woodward (Cinderella/Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hartlepool Borough Hall).
Presented by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Gertz in association with Zorro USA, LLC with Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane and Linda Bernadi, the production which had played just two previews at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre before the Covid-closedown is now scheduled to play the London venue until 28 May.
Announcing the first London run for the musical since its premiere in 2008, Lipson said: “I have always wanted to work on a re-imagined version of this brilliant and vibrant musical. I am excited to be bringing our troupe of incredible actor-musician performers to Charing Cross Theatre next spring, performing in the round and bringing some flamenco and Spanish flair to everyone’s seats.”
Durham heads a creative team that includes choreographer Cressida Carré, set and costume designer Rosa Maggiora, orchestrator and musical director Nick Barstow, sound designer Andrew Johnson, lighting designer Matthew Haskins, fight director Renny Krupinski, casting director Jane Deitch and general manager Chris Matanlé.
With music by the Gypsy Kings and composer John Cameron, lyrics by award-winning playwright Stephen Clark and a book by Clark and Helen Edmundson, Zorro The Musical is inspired by Chilean writer Isabel Allende’s 2005 fictional biography for the masked folk hero who has also featured in two hit movies starring Antonio Banderas.
Zorro The Musical debuted in the West End in 2008 with a production starring Olivier-nominee Matt Rawle as the eponymous hero and quadruple Olivier-nominee Emma Williams as Luisa.
Angela Thomas
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