Australian stars Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers will reprise their acclaimed performances as Mary Poppins and Bert in Mary Poppins when the multi-award-winning musical embarks on a new UK and Ireland tour later this year.
Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Group have confirmed the hit West End production which took its final bow at the Prince Edward Theatre in January 2023, will fly back into theatres with the stars of the recent Australian production leading the cast from 4 November.
Twenty years after the world premiere of the musical in Bristol, the stage version of the much-loved story of the magical nanny will return to the city to play the Bristol Hippodrome from 4-30 November. The 2024/2025 UK and Ireland tour will then head for the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (11 December 2024-11 January 2025), Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (22 January 2025-15 February 2025), Theatre Royal Plymouth (26 February 2025-29 March 2025) and Palace Theatre Manchester (9 April 2025-17 May 2025). Further venues will be announced at a later date.
Announcing the star casting and the tour’s first confirmed venues, producer and co-creator Cameron Mackintosh said: “It is amazingly already 20 years since Mary Poppins first landed onto the stage at the Bristol Hippodrome and started spreading Pamela Travers’ magical stories around the great cities of the world.
Mary has soared triumphantly around the globe and our recent Australian production discovered two of the most delightful Mary and Berts ever – Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers – whom I’m thrilled to be bringing to the United Kingdom and Ireland to star in this spectacular new national tour. They are heading a wonderful cast and I’m sure you will find this the most magical production of Mary Poppins ever, practically perfect in every way!”
Thomas Schumacher, chief creative officer and producer, Disney Theatrical Group added: “It is a joy to bring this glorious production back to the UK and Ireland under the guiding hand of our long-time partner Cameron Mackintosh. It is a privilege to keep the beloved tale of Mary and the Banks family alive for audiences who know it well, and for a new generation of theatregoers.”
Jones’ performance in the title role in the Australian national tour of Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s production of Mary Poppins earned her a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical. Now established as one of Australia’s favourite musical theatre stars, her credits include playing Rhonda Epinstall in the Australian national tour of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical for which she won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Jones has also played Liesl von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Giulietta in Aspects of Love, Jean MacLaren in Brigadoon and ‘Dream Ballet Laurie’ in Oklahoma!
Described as an ‘Australian triple threat’, Chambers has performed throughout Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. He was the winner of the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia in 2008 and his musical theatre credits include playing Kurt von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Link Larkin in Hairspray, and his performance as Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain earned him a Green Room Award, an Australian Dance Award and a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Supporting Role. He was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical for his portrayal of Bert in the Australian tour of Mary Poppins,
The winner of the Best Musical Revival at the 2020 WhatsOnStage Awards and Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreographer Awards at the 2022 Olivier Awards, Mary Poppins returned to its original London home, the Prince Edward Theatre in October 2019, 15 years after the musical version of the much-loved Disney film first appeared on the West End stage.
Co-created by Cameron Mackintosh with a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, the musical features the timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, along with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Mary Poppins is co-directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne and Richard Eyre and boasts orchestrations by William David Brohn with dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. The new sound design is by Paul Gatehouse with new lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz and co-choreography is by Stephen Mear. The reimagined set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley.
Angela Thomas
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