Theatre News

Cassie Compton, Gerard McCarthy and Jodie Jacobs among From Page to Stage casting

The season of rehearsed readings will open at the Tristan Bates Theatre at the end of October

Cassie Compton, Gerard McCarthy and Jodie Jacobs
Cassie Compton, Gerard McCarthy and Jodie Jacobs

Casting has been announced for this year's From Page to Stage season of new musical theatre writing.

Rehab by Grant Black, Murray Lachlan Young and Elliot Davis will be directed by Davis (Loserville) with musical direction by Bob Broad (Legally Blonde) and stars Kieran Brown (The Phantom of the Opera) and Cassie Compton (American Psycho).

They are joined by Ross Finnie (Billy Elliot), Jaymi Hensley (Union J), Beverley Klein (Into the Woods), Maria Omakinwa (Showboat), Ian Reddington (Coronation Street) and Damian Williams (Hairspray).

A new musical stage adaptation of Bananaman by Leon Parris will feature Graham Vick (Mrs Henderson Presents) as the Man of Peel, alongside Jodie Jacobs (Carrie) and Gerard McCarthy (Beautiful Thing).

The cast is completed by Ralph Bogard (Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens), Olly Dobson (Matilda), Kate Graham (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Carl Mullaney (Les Miserables), Rosie Needham (Legally Blonde) and Quinn Patrick (Little Shop of Horrors).

The third reading is of Luna Park by Hyeyoung Kim, Michael Cooper and Daniel F. Levin. Directed by Benji Sperring (The Toxic Avenger), the cast includes Geri Allen (The Wicker Husband), Georgie Ashford (Showboat), Craig Berry (Closer to Heaven), Ian Gareth-Jones (Mrs Henderson Presents), James Gulliford (The Stripper), Michael Hamway (Jackie the Musical), Lizzii Hills (The Toxic Avenger) and Chris Vincent (Oliver!).

Casting for the showcase evenings, including Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street, is to be announced.

From Page to Stage runs at the Tristan Bates Theatre from 31 October to 20 November 2016.