Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins and Charlie Stemp as Bert. Picture: Seamus Ryan
Zizi Strallen will take flight once again in the title role of Mary Poppins in 2017 when Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multi award-winning musical returns to its original West End home next autumn.
Fifteen years after the production’s stage premiere, Mary Poppins will return to the Prince Edward Theatre following the departure of Disney’s Aladdin which is due to end its successful three-year run in late August 2019.
Currently starring in Strictly Ballroom, Strallen, who previously played the magical nanny during the recent international tour, will be joined by the award-winning star of Mackintosh’s Half a Sixpence, Charlie Stemp. The actor who recently made his Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly! and starred in last year’s Palladium pantomime Dick Whittington will play Bert the chimney sweep.
Announcing Mary Poppins’ 2019 homecoming, Mackintosh said: “I’m thrilled to be bringing the internationally acclaimed new staging of Pamela Travers’ magical stories back to London in the autumn of 2019, with Disney, featuring the dazzling talents of Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp as Mary and Bert.
“The original production, over 14 years ago, only played London and Broadway and subsequently was revised and continues to be staged around the world with phenomenal success. The recent UK tour, starring Zizi as Mary, broke box office records everywhere it played.
“It has been particularly gratifying that the stage musical with its brilliant script by Julian Fellowes and wonderful new score by Stiles and Drewe, complementing the Sherman Brothers’ classic songs, has taken on its own magical life separate from the film, appealing to audiences of all ages and nationalities. Its story of the importance of family is at the heart of the show and the reason why this iconic British nanny remains irresistibly timeless and popular the world over.”
On behalf of Disney Theatrical Productions, producer Thomas Schumacher said: “It is, of course, a great joy to collaborate again with our long-time partner, Cameron Mackintosh, on this glorious production and I’m thrilled that the show will return to take up residency at the beautifully restored Prince Edward Theatre, one of London’s greatest.
“Mary Poppins may have played over one hundred cities on four continents but at last, Mary will return to the West End. In every iteration of this beloved tale, Mary appears at 17 Cherry Tree Lane because the Banks family needs her; needs her unconditional love, her enchantment and her belief. Has there ever been a time when we have all needed Mary more?”
The stage production of the much-loved story of the magical nanny was co-created by Mackintosh with a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and featuring the timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman. New songs and additional music and lyrics are by the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Mary Poppins boasts a creative team headed by stage and film director Richard Eyre. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne, with co-choreography by Stephen Mear. Set and costume design is by Bob Crowley, with lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, with orchestrations by William David Brohn.
The stage production of Mary Poppins originally opened in 2004 and ran in the West End for three years and over 1,250 performances. The show won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography and Best Set Design as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Set Design and the Variety Club Award for Best Musical.
The Broadway production ran for over six years where it won the Tony Award for Best Set Design. The show has also been a success in Holland, Mexico, Austria, Switzerland, Dubai, Japan and Germany and it has toured Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK and Ireland. The production has been seen by over 11 million people worldwide.
Angela Thomas
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