New musical to be staged in charity concert with Rob Houchen, Alan Titchmarsh and more

A concert staging of new musical At Last, It’s Summer! will take place next month.

Penned by Clive Richard Davis, with direction by Ian Talbot, and choreography from Jordan Langford, the show is in aid of Parkinson’s UK. 

Telling a tale of 1920s English shires, the piece is set in a leafy country home thrown into disarray by dark revelations. 

Davis explains today: “The story idea laid fallow in my head for years; a plot to hang some earworm melodies around.   That is where it would have stayed were it not for the gentle ribbing of chums who thought it more likely a donkey would win the Derby than that I would finish the thing, with its impossibly convoluted plot. The challenge was set and accepted. Sadly, one of the prime culprits is no longer with us, him having finally given up the battle with Parkinson’s.   Paul was struck down with the dreadful disease at far too early an age as was my wife’s father. If the ticket proceeds can contribute to finding a cure for Parkinson’s I could not wish for more.”

Set to appear will be Louise Dearman as Lady Serina Stanwick, Rob Houchen as Count Orilov, Joanna Riding as Countess Orilov, Gary Wilmot as Mr Wellbeloved, Gerard Carey as Gerald, Steve Fortune as Sir Garfield Sykes, Kelly Mathieson as Lady Alice Stanwick, Shannon Rewcroft as Francesca with Alan Titchmarsh as the Narrator. Further cast is to be revealed. 

Larry Blank orchestrates and will lead a 35-piece orchestra, alongside Jack Bennett as musical director. Casting is by Richard Johnston.

The show will run on 16 April at The London Palladium, with tickets on sale via the Palladium website.