Starter For Ten – initial casting

L-R: Top row – Stephenson Ardern-Sodje, Emily Lane, Will Jennings. Bottom row – Miracle Chance, Adam Bregman, Eubha Akilade Picture: Oliver Rosser, Feast Creative

First casting news has been announced for the new University Challenge-inspired musical Starter For Ten will receive its world premiere at Bristol Old Vic early next year.

Presented by Antic Productions, Bristol Old Vic, Longshot Films and Playtone, the musical adaptation of David Nicholls’ best-selling novel and the subsequent hit HBO/Playtone film will make its debut in Bristol from 29 February until 30 March 2024 as part of Nancy Medina’s inaugural season as artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic.

Current Conservatoire of Scotland student Adam Bregman (Bar Mitzvah Boy, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Sing Street, Huntington Theatre) will take on the lead role of Southend-born, Bristol-bound undergraduate Brian. He will appear alongside Eubha Akilade (Eve, CBBC, Find Me In Paris, Hulu/Disney) who will make her stage debut in the role of Brian’s closest friend on campus, Glaswegian Rebecca.

They will be joined by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje (Rock Follies, Chichester Festival Theatre, Once on This Island, Regent’s Park Theatre) as Brian’s childhood best friend Spencer; Miracle Chance (The Witches, National Theatre, Heathers, The Other Palace) as calm in a crisis quiz fanatic Lucy; Emily Lane (The Sound of Music, London Palladium, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as student am-dram celebrity and Brian’s unrequited crush Alice; and Will Jennings (Les Miserables, Sondheim Theatre, Shrek the Musical, UK tour) as the Bristol Challenge team captain and Brian’s biggest critic, Patrick.

Further casting for the lead roles of Professor Bowman, Brian’s mum Irene Jackson and quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne will be announced at a later date.

The feel-good musical features a 1980s-flavoured original score and lyrics by pop-punk composers Tom Rasmussen and Hatty Carman with a book and lyrics by the artistic directors of Antic Productions, Emma Hall and Charlie Parham.

Commenting on the first casting news for the production, Hall and Parham said: “It is so exciting to be working with a new generation of extremely talented young actors. In exactly the same way that the film Starter for 10 was instrumental in launching the careers of so many young British stars (James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall, Dominic Cooper and James Corden to name but a few!), we have seized this opportunity to champion and showcase the stars of tomorrow.”

Reacting to news of a musical version of his work, Nicholls (One Day) said: “Nearly 20 years after publication, it’s such a thrill that Brian’s misadventures are being brought to the stage, and by such a brilliant, dynamic team.”

Parham will also direct the production which will be choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, with set and costume design by Olivier Award nominee Frankie Bradshaw, sound design by Gregory Clarke and casting by Will Burton for GBC.

Angela Thomas