Exclusive: Full casting announced for Park Theatre's Daisy Pulls It Off

Full casting has been announced for the revival of Denise Deegan's Olivier Award-winning comedy Daisy Pulls It Off, which opens at the Park Theatre in December.

Directed by Paulette Randall, the show will feature an age-blind and diverse cast led by Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter series) as the titular Daisy. She is joined by Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless) as Trixie, Shobna Gulati (Dinnerladies) as Sybil and Mommy and Clare Perkins (Eastenders) as Monica and Belinda.

Randall says: "We knew straightaway that we were never going to cast an actual bunch of 12-year-old schoolgirls to portray the play's army of smart, brave and hilarious characters. So why even try with a bunch of sort-of lookalikes? Instead, we’ve thrown the rulebook out the window, casting a brilliant bunch of talented and diverse actors who, gloriously, tick none of the boxes."

The remainder of the cast is composed of Melanie Fullbrook (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Southwark Playhouse), Lucy Eaton ( The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Donmar Warehouse) and Freddie Hutchins (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Southwark Playhouse).

Winning the Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 1983, Daisy Pulls It Off tells the story of a group of schoolgirls in the 1920s, and how their social lives are disrupted by the arrival of the titular Daisy.

Daisy Pulls It Off runs at the Park Theatre from 8 December to 13 January, with previews from 5 December.