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Pet Shop Boys Musical Confirmed to Open 31 May

Closer to Heaven - the much talked about show by Jonathan Harvey and 1980s pop band, the Pet Shop Boys - is confirmed for a spring premiere in the West End. The modern musical, set in London's clubland, will open at the tiny, 350-seat Arts Theatre on 31 May 2001, following previews from 15 May.

Dave - who is young, sexy and fresh from Ireland - falls for beautiful, ambitious Shell, and streetwise drug dealer, Mile End Lee. Billie Tricks, 1970s rock icon and now hostess of a glitzy London nightclub, is there when they need to turn to "mother". Meanwhile, the outrageous Bob Saunders, pop manager extraordinaire, has his own plans for Dave. As fame and fortune beckon, Dave quickly learns that things aren't always as straightforward as they seem.

Neil Tennant and Chris Love, aka the Pet Shop Boys, are the most successful pop duo in British chart history, having sold over 28 million albums worldwide. Their number one hits include "West End Girls" and "It's a Sin". The duo have written the music and lyrics for Closer to Heaven.

The musical's book is by Jonathan Harvey whose plays include the award-winning Beautiful Thing, Swan Song, Hushabye Mountain, Babies, Rupert Street Lonely Hearts Club, Boom Bang-a-Bang and Guiding Star. His latest play, Out in the Open, directed by Kathy Burke, is currently running at the Hampstead Theatre.

Closer to Heaven is directed by Gemma Bodinetz who also directed Harvey's 1998 Hillsborough drama, Guiding Star, in Liverpool and at the National. Her other credits include Breath, Boom (Royal Court), Dead Funny (tour), Chimps and Paper Husband (Hampstead). The musical is choreographed by Peter Darling and designed by Simon Baker with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Simon Baker and musical supervision by Chris Nightingale.

Terry Johnson's production of Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr Sloane, starring Alison Steadman and Clive Francis, currently playing at the Arts Theatre, finishes its run on 6 April.

- by Terri Paddock

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