Made in Dagenham – Isla Blair and David Cardy join cast

Isla Blair joins the cast of Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi Theatre in the role of Connie

Renowned stage and screen actors Isla Blair and David Cardy will complete the cast of Made in Dagenham, the new musical that will open at the Adelphi Theatre on Wednesday 5 November, with previews from 9 October. Blair and Cardy will play Connie and Monty respectively, in the musical stage adaptation of the hit British film, which has a book by Richard Bean, music by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas.

They join international film actress Gemma Arterton in the lead role of Rita O’Grady, with Adrian Der Gregorian as her husband Eddie.

Isla Blair’s long and prestigious career includes stage roles in the original London company of Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, The History Boys (West End), and seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic.

David Cardy’s recent stage credits include Ghost Stories (West End and Lyric Hammersmith/Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse) and Dreamboats & Petticoats (West End). On screen he is best known for his recently reprised role of Chris Theodopolopodus in the hit comedy series Birds of a Feather.

Essex 1968. Like millions of other workingwomen, each morning Rita O’Grady is just trying to get her husband out of bed, get the kids off to school and get to work at the factory on time. But life is about to change forever when it’s announced that the girls in the stitching room of Ford’s Dagenham car plant will have their pay grade dropped to ‘unskilled’.

Quickly drawing on a strength she never knew she had, Rita leads her friends in a battle against the might of Ford and the corruption of the Union supposed to protect them. As the girls’ inspiring journey gets bigger than anyone could have imagined, the pressure is too much for some, but can Rita keep up the fight and the happy home she’s worked so hard for?

As previously announced casting also includes Steve Furst playing US Ford executive Mr Tooley, Mark Hadfield as Harold Wilson, Sophie-Louise Dann playing Barbara Castle, Sophie Stanton as Beryl, Heather Craney as Clare, Sophie Isaacs as Sandra, Julius D’Silva playing Ford Dagenham boss Mr Hopkins and Naomi Frederick as his wife Lisa.

Also in the Made in Dagenham cast are Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Thomas Aldridge, Kate Coysten, Christopher Howell, Scott Garnham, Ian Jervis, Paul Kemble, Emma Lindars, Jo Napthine, Tracey Penn, Gemma Salter, Gareth Snook, Rachel Spurrell, Emily Squibb, Karli Vale and Rene Zagger.

Directed by Rupert Goold (artistic director of the Almeida Theatre), Made in Dagenham has a book by Richard Bean (writer of the global hit play One Man, Two Guvnors), music by composer David Arnold (James Bond series, Independence Day, Hot Fuzz, Sherlock and Little Britain) and lyrics from Richard Thomas (Jerry Spring the Opera, the Royal Opera’s Anna Nicole). Bunny Christie (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) will design with choreography by Aletta Collins (Awakenings by Rambert Dance Company, His Dark Materials at the National Theatre).

Made in Dagenham is presented by Stage Entertainment, Glass Half Full Productions and Just for Laughs Theatricals and is based on the motion picture of the same name produced by Number 9 Films.

www.madeindagenhamthemusical.com