Picture: Richard Davenport
Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of Nativity! The Musical which is due to open at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 20 October.
Produced by Jamie Wilson, Entertainment One, Ramin Sabi and Belgrade Theatre Coventry, the musical version of the hit 2009 festive family tale of the ultimate school Nativity play will embark on a short UK tour following its Birmingham run ahead of a Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Andy Brady will join the previously announced Daniel Boys (Paul Madden), Sarah Earnshaw (Jennifer Lore), Simon Lipkin (Mr Poppy), Jemma Churchill (Mrs Bevan), and Jamie Chapman (Patrick Burns).
Brady, whose stage credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and tours of The Rocky Horror Show, Mamma Mia! and Hair, will take on the role of rival teacher Mr Shakespeare.
Also joining the cast will be Derek Aidoo (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical), Jalisa Andrews (The Life) and Jennifer Louise Jones (Half a Sixpence). The adult cast is completed by Andy Barke, Gary Davis and Katia Sartini.
The youngsters cast as the children of St Bernadette’s School are: Harry Martin (age 9, from Tamworth), Fintan McGrory (age 8, from Warwickshire) and Moosa Mostafa (age 9, from Leamington Spa) who will alternate in the role of ‘Cute Joseph’.
Jasmine McKenna (age 9, from Coventry), Layla Grace Quaid (age 11, from Worcestershire) and Beatrice Schofield (age 10, from Birmingham) will alternate the role of ‘Cute Mary’.
Evie Bennell-Low (age 9, from Coventry), Katelyn-Janet Rollason (age 9, from Kidderminster) and Chantelle Jane Tonolete (age 9, from Birmingham) will alternate the role of The Star.
Gerald Ngwenya (age 11, from Wolverhampton), Kheiri Isaac-Osmani (age 11, from Birmingham) and William Redican (age 10, from Birmingham) will alternate the role of Angel Gabriel.
Oratile Chele (age 9, from Birmingham), Chaelissa Gray (age 9, from Birmingham) and Angelina Martin (age 9, from Worcester) will alternate the role of the Shepherd.
Layla Grace Gavin (age 8, from Coventry), Betsy Jiggins (age 9, from Solihull) and Lyla Peters (age 10, from Coventry) will alternate the role of Jennifer.
Alexander Hogg (age 11, from Walsall), Joshua Millard-Lloyd (age 9, from Sandwell) and Archie Turner (age 10, from Sandwell) will alternate the role of Gordon.
Jamie Bates (age 10, from Leicestershire), Zak Lackenby (age 10, from Dudley) and Nicholas Vakis (age 10, from Burton on Trent) will alternate the role of Paul.
They will be joined by Grace Green (age 10, from Castle Bromwich), Amy Mulhall (age 9, from Worcestershire) and Celie Newman (age 9, from Coventry) who will alternate the role of ‘Feel Sick Girl’.
Written and directed by the film’s creator Debbie Isitt with music and lyrics by Nicky Ager and Isitt, the production is choreographed by Andrew Wright and designed by David Woodhead. Lighting design is by Tim Mitchell with sound design by Tom Marshall and musical supervision and orchestrations by George Dyer.
After Birmingham, the show will head for Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Sheffield Lyceum, Manchester Palace, and Plymouth Theatre Royal before playing a London season at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo and the Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Already a staple of the Christmas TV schedules, Nativity starred a pre-Sherlock Martin Freeman as teacher Mr Maddens who reluctantly takes on the job of producing a musical Nativity with the help of the exuberant Mr Poppy and a host of scene stealing kids.
Angela Thomas
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