Theatre News

Beck & Burt Lead Goodall’s Kissing at Jermyn St

15 February 2011

The Kissing Dance, a musical by Howard Goodall with lyrics by Charles Hart, is receiving its professional premiere at Jermyn Street Theatre in March, with a cast led by Gina Beck, David Burt and Beverley Klein.

Originally commissioned and performed by the National Youth Theatre in 1999, the show, adapted from Oliver Goldsmith’s classic comedy She Stoops to Conquer, has been extensively developed since then and premieres at the Jermyn from 22 March to 23 April 2011.

A comedy of mistaken identity, The Kissing Dance is set in the great hall at Nonesuch, where young heiress Kate Hardcastle and her cousin Constance prepare to receive their suitors. But Kate’s formidable mother Mrs Hardcastle and the mischievous Tony Lumpkin have other ideas. For tonight is All Fools’ Eve, when the world can be turned upside down by determined young lovers.

Gina Beck reprises the role of Kate Hardcastle, which she first played aged 15 in the original NYMT production. She has since become a familiar face in the West End starring as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and Cosette in Les Misérables.

David Burt (Mr Hardcastle) has performed many leading roles for the RSC, National Theatre and in the West End, including originating the role of Enjolras in Les Misérables. Beverley Klein’s credits include Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, the Witch in Into the Woods (Royal Opera House) and Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Opera North).

Howard Goodall is an Emmy, Brit and Bafta-winning composer of choral music, stage musicals (including The Hired Man and Love Story), film and TV scores (including Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley).

Charles Hart is best known for writing lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera and Aspects of Love. He contributed additional lyrics for the newly revised Love Never Dies.

Goodall and Hart’s other collaborations include The Dreaming (2001), which was also originally commissioned and performed by the NYT.

The Kissing Dance is directed by Lotte Wakeham, a graduate of the Young Vic Directors Program, with musical direction by Tom Attwood and choreography by Tim Jackson. Casting is still to be announced.