Theatre News

Gemma Sutton stars in Carousel at Arcola

Sutton leads a cast that also includes Tim Rogers and Amanda Minihan

Gemma Sutton in Chicago
Gemma Sutton in Chicago

Gemma Sutton will star as Julie Jordan with Tim Rogers as Billy Bigelow in the forthcoming revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel at the Arcola Theatre.

The production runs at the east London venue from 23 June to 19 July 2014 (previews from 18 June).

The cast also features Amanda Minihan as Nettie Fowler, Vicki Lee Taylor as Carrie Pipperidge, Joel Montague as Enoch Snow, Valerie Cutko as Mrs Mullin, Richard Kent as Jigger Craigin, Paul Hutton as The Starkeeper, Susanna Porter as Louise and Michael Carolan as Enoch Snow Jr.

Completing the company are Joseph Connor, Katrina Dix, Anton Fosh and Charlotte Gale.

Gemma Sutton most recently appeared in Blues In The Night at Hackney Empire. Other recent credits include Drunk at the Bridewell Theatre, Roxie Hart in Chicago at Leicester Curve and Amber in the UK tour of Hairspray.

Tim Rogers was last seen on stage as the title role in Morphic Graffiti’s production of Jekyll and Hyde at the Union Theatre. Other credits include the UK tour of Aspects of Love, and Whistle Down the Wind at the Palace Theatre.

Carousel will feature a new acoustic orchestration by Mark Cumberland with musical supervision from Tony-nominated orchestrator Larry Blank.

The production is directed by Luke Fredericks (Jekyll and Hyde) with choreography by Lee Proud (Hairspray, Leicester Curve), set and costume design by Stewart Charlesworth and lighting design by Catherine Webb.

Carousel is a romantic fantasy from both Heaven and Earth, tracking the tragic New England love story of fast-talking carousel barker Billy Bigelow and naïve mill worker Julie Jordan.

The score includes "If I Loved You", "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" and the iconic anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".