Josefina Gabrielle
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Gabrielle & Tikaram in King & I Tour at Lowry & Empire

The national tour of Leicester Curve’s new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s smash-hit musical The King and I  is confirmed to visit the Lowry and the Liverpool Empire Theatre in 2012. Ramon Tikaram will play the role of ‘The King’ and Josefina Gabrielle will play the role of Anna.

The production tells the story of the British governess brought to the court of Siam to tutor the King’s many children, told via such classic songs as "Shall We Dance", "I Whistle A Happy Tune", "Hello Young Lovers", "The March of the Siamese Children" and "Getting To Know You."
 
This new production from Leicester Curve, is directed by Paul Kerryson, and features a ten-piece orchestra.

The King and I is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time. Seen by millions of people across the world since it was first performed in 1951, when it was showered with awards and became the blockbuster Hollywood movie, its glorious soundtrack is still a bestseller today.

Ramon Tikaram is a stage and screen actor who is probably best known as Ferdy in the BBC drama This Life, and can currently be seen playing Qadim in EastEnders. His other TV credits include Casualty, Primeval, Wired and The Mighty Boosh. His West End theatre credits include Bombay Dreams, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Gaddafi in Gaddafi – A Living Myth at English National Opera, Genie in Aladdin at the Old Vic Theatre and Rama in Ramayana at the National Theatre.

Josefina Gabrielle is a double Olivier Award-nominated stage and screen actress, whose career spans the West End and Broadway. Josefina most famously starred alongside Hugh Jackman in Trevor Nunn’s iconic National Theatre production of Oklahoma!, receiving an Oliver Award-nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. She later starred in the same production when it transferred to the West End and Broadway. Most recently in the West End Josefina has played Lily in Park Avenue Cat, Nicky/Ursula in Sweet Charity, Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret in The 39 Steps, Roxie Hart in Chicago, Alex Spofford in The Witches of Eastwick and Iris in the original cast of Fame. Her many other stage credits include Irene in Hello Dolly at Regent’s Park, Cathy in Singin' in the Rain at Sadler’s Wells, Cassie in A Chorus Line at Sheffield Crucible, Dot in Sunday In The Park With George at Leicester Haymarket and Carousel at the National Theatre.

The cast also features Claire-Marie Hall as Tup-Tim, Adrian Li Donni as Lun-tha, Maya Sapone as Lady Thiang, Nicholas Goh as Kralahome, and Gary Wood as Prince Choulalonghorn.

The King & I is produced by John Stalker for and on behalf of Music and Lyrics Limited, a new nationwide consortium comprised of the UK’s major independent touring theatres. It aims to champion musical theatre in all its forms and provide extended life to productions created by the UK’s major producing theatres. For The King and I, Music and Lyrics has received generous financial support from Arts Council England to support a major audience development project aimed at young audiences and non-traditional theatre goers.

The show runs at the Lowry from 21 - 25 February and the Liverpool Empire from 3 - 7 April
 

- by Glenn Meads

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