Outhwaite Transfers Charity to Haymarket, 4 May

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 9 Feb 2010), the Menier Chocolate Factory’s current revival of Broadway musical classic Sweet Charity, starring Tamzin Outhwaite, will transfer to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket after its current season at the 150-seat Off-West End powerhouse.

Matthew White’s production will open on 4 May 2010 (previews from 23 April) at the Haymarket, where it is initially booking until 8 January 2011. It first opened at the Menier in Southwark on 2 December 2009 (previews from 21 November), and it finishes its run there on 7 March 2010. Further casting for the West End has yet to be confirmed.

Sweet Charity, which has music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and a book by Neil Simon, takes a look at the seedy underbelly of 1960s New York. The gullible, enchanting heroine Charity Hope Valentine (Outhwaite) dances, laughs and cries her way through a series of whirlwind romances to show-stopping numbers including “Rhythm of Life”, “If My Friends Could See Me Now” and “Hey Big Spender”.

The production is choreographed by Stephen Mear and designed by Tim Shortall, with costume design by Matthew Wright, musical supervision and direction by Nigel Lilley, orchestrations by Chris Walker, lighting by David Howe and sound design by Gareth Owen. The current cast also features Mark Umbers, Josefina Gabrielle and Tiffany Graves.

Sweet Charity is produced in the West End by Chocolate Factory Productions, David Ian Productions, the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions and David Mirvish. Currently at the Haymarket, the return of Sean Mathias’ revival of Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot, starring Ian McKellen and Roger Rees, finishes on 3 April.