Fresh from his success in A Taste Of Honey and Romeo and Juliet, Coronation’s Street‘s Todd Grimshaw; Bruno Langley is getting ready to return to Manchester in the World premiere of Flashdance, the musical based on the smash hit Eighties movie. The show recently launched its national tour at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on 19 July and arrives here in September.

Relative unknown, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt has also been cast as the lead, Alex, the welder by day and dancer by night, played by Jennifer Beals in the film. Choreographer Arlene Phillips explained how she cast Victoria: “After searching the country high and low and seeing hundreds of girls for the part of Alex, I suddenly remembered the stunning Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who had played a leading role in Saturday Night Fever in the West End and invited her to audition. She is the only girl who we believe can sing, act and dance this role to the standard we need.”

Hamilton-Barritt and Langley will also be joined by Bernie Nolan, of the Nolan Sisters, as dance mentor Hannah Owens and ex Hear’Say member Noel Sullivan (pictured – principals with Phillips). Flashdance is directed by Kenny Leon, designed by Paul Farnsworth and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with lighting is by Jason Taylor. The production is presented by Christopher Malcolm, David Ian and AEGON in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Paramount Pictures.

The 1983 film of Flashdance starred Jennifer Beals as Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh welder and exotic dancer who dreams of winning a place at a prestigious dance school and becoming a professional ballet dancer. Along the way, she has a passionate affair with Nick, the rich boss of the steel mill where she works. The film featured the songs “Maniac” and “Flashdance… What a Feeling”, which won an Academy Award for Best Song – it also launched a fashion frenzy for torn sweatshirts.

The show also features the hits “I Love Rock N’ Roll” and “Gloria.”

Flashdance summersaults into Manchester from 8th September until 13th September at the Palace Theatre.

-Glenn Meads

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