Theatre News

Exclusive: American Idiot to tour UK starring Amelia Lily

The Green Day musical will begin a tour at the Curve, Leicester in March

Ben Hewis
London London's West End Off-West End

Producers have confirmed that Green Day’s Tony Award winning Broadway musical American Idiot will embark on a national tour from 19 March 2016, following its critically acclaimed West End run.

The show, which is currently running at the Arts Theatre, Leicester Square until 22 November 2015, will begin it’s UK tour at the Curve Theatre, Leicester, with other confirmed venues including the Palace Theatre, Manchester (5-9 April), New Theatre, Cardiff (19-23 April), Kings Theatre, Portsmouth (26-30 April), New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (10-14 May), Exeter Northcott Theatre (18-22 May), Sunderland Empire (24-28 May) and King’s Theatre, Glasgow (31 May – 4 June). Further dates are due to be announced shortly.

American Idiot is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris.

Full casting is yet to be announced, however Amelia Lily (X-Factor) has confirmed that she will reprise her role, Whatsername, from 5 April at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Talking of the announcement, Lily said:

"I’m so excited to be a part of American Idiot on tour! It’s been an amazing experience playing Whatsername in the West End and now I get to do it all over again next year around the UK, bringing this incredible show to a wider audience who haven’t had a chance to see it in London!"

The award-winning Broadway musical – which features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and a book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer – opened at the Arts Theatre in July.

It tells the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world and features hit songs including "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" "21 Guns" "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and the title track "American Idiot".

Amelia Lily (Whatsername) is a singer who finished third on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011. Her debut single, "You Bring Me Joy", was released in 2012 and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. American Idiot is her West End debut and she previously starred as the Narrator in the UK tour of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.