Wilmot Stars in Watermill Revival of Radio Times

Gary Wilmot will lead the cast of the Watermill Theatre’s new actor-musician production of Noel Gay musical Radio Times, which runs from 10 August to 24 September 2011 (previews from 4 August).

First produced in Birmingham 20 years ago and subsequently seen at the West End’s Queen’s Theatre, the musical was written by Abi Grant, incorporating the music of Noel Gay, author of Me and My Girl among others.

Set in London’s Criterion Theatre in the Spring of 1941, Radio Times traces the struggles of the cast of Variety Bandwagon, a BBC light entertainment show, broadcasting for the first time to live America. The clock ticks away, the line-up is depleted and there is no sign of Sammy, the star of the show.

It includes the classic numbers “There’s Something About A Soldier”, “Run, Rabbit, Run”, “Who’s Been Polishing The Sun?” and “Hey Little Hen”.

The Watermill revival will be directed by Caroline Leslie, with musical supervision and arrangements by Paul Herbert and choreography by Alistair David.

Gary Wilmot, who makes his Watermill debut, has extensive musical theatre credits including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Bang at the London Palladium and Noel Gay’s Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre. Recently, he starred opposite Maria Friedman in Ian Talbot’s production of The Invisible Man at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Subsequent productions in the new Watermill season include a new staging of Great Expectations (29 September-5 November), adapted by Neil Bartlett, to mark the 150th anniversary of its publication, and a festive run of Wind in the Willows (24 November-7 January), adapted by Toby Hulse and directed by Robin Belfield.