Opera North's Kiss Me, Kate casting announced

Casting has been announced for the return of Opera North's award-winning production of Kiss Me, Kate, which opens at Leeds Grand Theatre in May.

Directed by Jo Davies, the cast will feature Stephanie Corley (The Merry Widow) as Lilli Vanessi/ Kate. Quirijn de Lang (Trouble in Tahiti) returns to play Fred Graham/Petruchio, and WhatsOnStage Award-nominee Zoë Rainey (An American in Paris) will play Lois Lane/Bianca. Alan Burkitt revives his performance as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, having played the role in the Welsh National Opera run in 2016.

They are joined by Aiesha Pease as Hattie, Stephane Anelli as Paul, James Hayes as Harry Trevor/Baptista, Jack Wilcox as Hortensio, Malcolm Ridley as Harrison Howell, and Joseph Shovelton and John Savournin as First Gangster and Second Gangster.

The show, written by Samuel and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, is a musical retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and features the classic songs "Too Darn Hot", "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" and "So In Love".

Opera North's production will be conducted by James Holmes with design by Colin Richmond and choreography by Will Tucket.

Kiss Me, Kate opens in Leeds on 23 May before touring to Ravenna, Italy and the London Coliseum in June, and Festival Theatre, Edinburgh in July.