Theatre News

Casting announced for Through the Mill

Ray Rackham’s play follows Judy Garland at three pivotal moments in her life

Belinda Wollaston as Judy Garland and Harry Anton as Sidney Luft
Belinda Wollaston as Judy Garland and Harry Anton as Sidney Luft
© Darren Bell

Casting has been announced for the production of Ray Rackham's musical Through the Mill at Southwark Playhouse.

The piece looks at the life of Judy Garland at three pivotal moments in her life. Helen Sheals, Belinda Wollaston and Lucy Penrose all play the singer.

The rest of the roles are all played by the cast who were in the original run of the piece at the London Theatre Workshop in December last year. Cast includes Don Cotter as L.B. Mayer; Rob Carter as Hunt Stromberg Jr.; Amanda Bailey and Joe Shefer play Garland’s parents Ethel and Frank Gumm.

The cast will be completed by Tom Reade who will play Garland’s arranger and lifelong friend Roger Edens; and Harry Anton will play Garland’s longest serving husband Sidney Luft. The rest of the company includes Carmella Brown, Chris McGuigan and Perry Meadowcroft.

The piece will include a number of Garland's hit songs such as "The Trolley Song", "The Man That Got Away" and "Over the Rainbow".

Rackham's piece is set during the filming of The Judy Garland Show in 1963 and looks at her rise to fame.

Through the Mill runs at Southwark Playhouse from 8 to 30 July.