Kevin Clifton and Maisie Smith will star in the Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour
Ex EastEnder and 2020 Strictly Come Dancing finalist Maisie Smith will make her musical theatre debut later this year in the 2022/23 UK tour of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical.
Directed and co-choreographed by the hard-to-please King of the Saturday night put-down, Craig Revel Horwood, the hit romantic comedy set within the sequin-studded world of competitive ballroom dancing will reunite Smith with her former Strictly pro-partner Kevin Clifton – the couple danced to victory in the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Children In Need special.
Commenting on her new role, Smith said: “Dancing in Strictly has been a huge part of my life, and been so much fun. I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to continue that journey in Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Not only do I get to make my musical theatre debut with my former partner in crime, Kevin Clifton, but I get to work with Craig Revel Horwood and Jason Gilkison again too – I can’t wait.”
Dancing partner Clifton said: “I’m beyond excited to be performing with Maisie again – she’s amazing! And I’ll finally be fulfilling my lifelong ambition to play Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom The Musical. When I was 10 years old I first watched the movie that would become my favourite film of all time. This is my dream role. I can’t wait to don the golden jacket and waltz all over the UK with Maisie in what’s set to be an incredible show!”
Revel Horwood added: “I’m delighted that the super talented Maisie Smith is joining Kevin Clifton on the Strictly Ballroom UK tour. I can’t wait to see them dance together again. Expect some sexy moves, sizzling costumes and a simply sensational evening! I know that they’ll both be FAB-U-LOUS!”
Co-choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s creative director Jason Gilkison, the production will launch in Portsmouth on 26 September, before dancing into venues across the UK with the tour taking its final bows in Bristol in July 2023. Smith is due to remain with the production until 25 March.
A favourite with fans of the BBC celebrity dance show, international Ballroom and Latin champion Clifton made his musical theatre debut in Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych in 2010 and returned to play Robbie Hart in The Wedding Singer for a limited London season at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
As well as being a popular fixture on Saturday night TV, Revel Horwood’s vast musical theatre credentials include playing Miss Hannigan in multiple productions of Annie and directing and choreographing productions of a range of major shows including Sister Act and Chess.
The feel-good story of the rule-breaking dancer and the shy outsider who transforms into the perfect partner first hit the stage as a student play. The play was then transformed into a film by Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin before the duo worked with Terry Johnson, who joined the team to adapt the original book, to return to the stage in its musical incarnation at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2014.
Featuring a book by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce and a mixture of feel-good songs from the film’s original soundtrack, along with new songs from current chart stars Sia, David Foster and Eddie Perfect, the show also played seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane in 2015. The show made its eagerly-anticipated UK debut at the West Yorkshire Playhouse late in 2016 before playing a West End run in 2018.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.