Theatre News

X Factor musical titled I Can’t Sing!, opens Palladium March 2014

The forthcoming X Factor musical will be called I Can’t Sing! The Musical and will premiere at the London Palladium on 26 March 2014 (previews from 27 February).

The show, which is scripted by comedian Harry Hill and has music by Steve Brown, is titled after one of the songs in the show, tickets are on sale now.

Hill and Brown said in a joint statement: “We’d been umm-ing and ahh-ing about the title for a while – then it hit us – I Can’t Sing! It also happens to be the title of one of the funniest songs in the show, and we hope hints at the direction we’re taking this production.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing this all singing, all dancing, all mickey-taking spectacular to the home of entertainment itself, The London Palladium. We’re pretty certain that you won’t have seen anything like it before and it’s great that Simon (Cowell) is backing it 4,500 per cent.”

The show, which is directed by Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley, previously had the working title X Factor – It’s Time to Face the Musical. Foley told the Evening Standard that I Can’t Sing! won’t rely on “big star” casting and will be
“old-time theatrical” in flavour, having the feel of “a classic night at
the Palladium.”

According to press material, the show “goes behind the microphone and under the judges’ desk to reveal the (not necessarily accurate) story of heartache and laughter that keeps millions tuning in every week.

“In turn irreverent, anarchic and strangely touching I Can’t Sing! is an affectionate poke at the world’s most talked about talent show that will please friends and foes of The X Factor in equal measure.”

The creative team is completed by choreographer Kate Prince (Zoonation’s Into The Hoods and Some Like It Hip Hop),
designer Es Devlin (2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony), sound designer
Gareth Owen, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone and musical supervisor
Phil Bateman.

I Can’t Sing! The Musical produced by Stage Entertainment UK and Syco Entertainment, which is owned by X Factor supremo Simon Cowell (pictured).

Cowell will reportedly be the butt of several jokes in the show. Rebecca Quigley, from Stage Entertainment, said: “It’s going to be quite a wacky big show; we learn why he wears his trousers high.”

Preview and group tickets go on sale tomorrow (23 May 2013). Currently at the Palladium, A Chorus Line is booking until 18 January 2014.