Theatre News

Exclusive: Darren Day, Michael Xavier and Jessica Martin to star in Bumblescratch concert

The one-off gala performance of Robert J Sherman’s new musical will be at the Adelphi

Darren Day, Jessica Martin and Michael Xavier will star in Bumblescratch
Darren Day, Jessica Martin and Michael Xavier will star in Bumblescratch
© Don Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Casting has been announced for the one-off charity performance of Robert J Sherman's new musical Bumblescratch.

Darren Day (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) will play Melbourne Bumblescratch, Michael Xavier (Sunset Boulevard) will play Hookbeard and Jessica Martin (Elf) will play Bethesda and Widow MacGregor.

The concert will take place at the Adelphi Theatre on 4 September, and will be held in aid of Variety, the Children's Charity.

Bumblescratch is a comedy set in London during the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. It tells the story from the perspective of a demented plague rat Melbourne Bumblescratch as he scurries around the capital.

The production has music, lyrics and book by Robert J Sherman, who will continue the legacy of his father and uncle Robert B and Richard M Sherman. Together the pair wrote the music for films such as Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Bumblescratch will be performed at the Adelphi Theatre on 4 September