Cast: Johanssen Will Rock You, Poppins ConfirmsDate: 26 October 2005
Queen and Ben Elton's hit Whatsonstage.com Award-winning musical We Will Rock You has a new leading man, as Swedish-born Peter Johansson makes his official West End debut as Galileo in the long-running show at the Dominion Theatre.
Johansson has taken over from Mig Ayesa, who he has understudied since March 2004, while Ayesa competed in Rock Star, a TV search to find a new singer for INXS. Ayesa is now pursuing a music career in the US.
Galileo is the unintentional hero who ends up saving the kids of Planet Mall from the tyrannical Killer Queen and discovers the place of living rock. Johansson officially took over 17 October 2005 and is the third actor to be awarded the role, which was originated by Tony Vincent, who is now starring in the Las Vegas production of We Will Rock You.
Johansson’s previous European stage credits include lead roles in Saturday Night Fever and A Chorus Line. In We Will Rock You, he stars alongside show veteran Hannah Jane Fox, in the role of Galileo's feisty girlfriend, Scaramouche.
Now in its fourth year, in August 2005, the musical became the longest-running show ever staged at the Dominion Theatre, where it premiere in April 2002 and is now booking until 29 April 2006. The show has now been seen by over four million people in London and has productions in Spain, Germany, Russia, Australia and Japan as well as Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, the new cast of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s stage adaptation of Mary Poppins has officially been confirmed (See News, 21 Oct 2005).
Joining Scarlett Strallen, Eliza Lumley and Aden Gillett at the West End’s Prince Edward Theatre from Monday 31 October 2005 are Sarah Flind as Mrs Brill, Ray C Davis as the park keeper, and Andrew Pepper as Robertson Ay. Rosemary Ashe and Julia Sutton continue in their respective roles as Miss Andrew and Bird Woman.
The musical, based on the children’s stories by PL Travers and co-directed by Richard Eyre and Matthew Bourne, opened in the West End in December 2004 and is now booking up to 29 October 2006.
- by Caroline Ansdell
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