Kelly's Singin' in the Rain Opens in London

The West Yorkshire Playhouse's acclaimed revival of the stage version of one of the most successful film musicals of all time, Singin' in the Rain, begins its London run tonight. The musical, based on the 1952 MGM film featuring Gene Kelly in one of the wettest and most used movie clips of all time, opens at the National's Olivier Theatre tonight and continues to 20 July 2000.

The silver screen was never the same after silent films gave way to the talkies. Stars who had enchanted millions without saying a word were now forced to find a voice. And if they could talk, why not have them sing and dance? Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Singin' in the Rain is the story of the making of the first Hollywood musical in which silent star Lina Lamont is struggling to overcome the restrictions of her horrible voice. The stage adaptation includes favourite songs from the famous film soundtrack, including 'Good Morning', 'Make 'em Laugh', 'Moses Supposes' and, of course, the title song.

The original cast transfer with the production for its London run with Paul Robinson as Don Lockwood (played by Kelly in the film), Mark Channon as Cosmo Brown, Zoe Hart as Kathy Seldon and Rebecca Thornhill as Lina Lamont. They are joined in by Saskia Butler, Sarah Cortez, Wain Douglas, Ross Finnie, Ben Garner, Elizabeth Cooper Gee, Steven Harris, David Lucas, Jane Mark, Annette McLaughlin, Adrian McLoughlin, Richard O'Neal, Lee Payne, Joseph Pitcher, Tony Timberlake, Suzanne Toase and Claire Winsper.

Directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director Jude Kelly and choreographed by Stephen Mear, Singin' in the Rain opened at the Leeds theatre in December 1999 to wide acclaim. Musical direction is by Mark W Dorrell and water effects by Mario Borza.

Jude Kelly's recent productions at the West Yorkshire Playhouse include Macbeth, Deadmeat and the celebrated Courtyard Company residency featuring Ian McKellen and Clare Higgins. Her work in musical theatre includes the British premiere of Kander and Ebb's And the World Goes Round and an award-winning production of Gypsy. Her production of Donizetti's The Elixir of Love for the English National Opera was nominated for a South Bank Show Award.

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