Theatre News

Cast: Willetts & Ellis in Aspects, Sweeney Sunday

| London's West End |

8 June 2010

Full casting has been announced for Trevor Nunn‘s forthcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, which opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 15 July 2010 (previews from 7 July).

Joining the previously announced Michael Arden (Alex Dillingham) and Katherine Kingsley (Rose Vibert) are: Dave Willetts as George, Rosalie Craig as Giulietta, Martyn Ellis as Marcel, Rebecca Brewer as Jenny, along with Jill Armour, Louisa Lydell, Ian McLarnon, David Roberts, Savannah Stevenson, Dominic Tighe and Rebecca Trehearn.

Dave Willetts was last in the West End as Max in Sunset Boulevard, while Rosalie Craig’s recent credits include Anyone Can Whistle at Jermyn Street Theatre. Martyn Ellis won a Whatsonstage.com Award for playing Nicely Nicely in Michael Grandage’s Donmar revival of Guys and Dolls. Rebecca Brewer is making her professional stage debut in Aspects of Love.

The first major London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Charles Hart’s 1989 musical – originally seen at the West End’s Prince of Wales Theatre, where it was also directed by Nunn – will run at the Menier’s 150-seat home in Southwark until 11 September 2010.

Claire Sweeney will star in a new tour of another Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black collaboration, Tell Me On A Sunday, which opens at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton on 30 August 2010.

The production has been “remodelled” for Sweeney by Lloyd Webber and Black, including an exclusive new song entitled “I Still Believe in Love”. Press material describes it as “the definitive version of the classic musical for 2010”.

Originally conceived for television starring Marti Webb, Tell Me On A Sunday has been performed by stars such as Elaine Paige, Sarah Brightman and Denise Van Outen. Charting the romantic misadventures of a young English girl newly arrived in New York, the score features “Take That Look Off Your Face”, “Unexpected Song” and the title track.

Best known for her TV programmes including Brookside, 60 Minute Makeover and Loose Women, Claire Sweeney’s West End credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

In other musical casting news:

Charlie Bruce, the 19-year-old winner of BBC show So You Think You Can Dance, will join Ray Quinn (Billy), Johnny Wright (Johnny Castle) and Hannah Vassallo (‘Baby’) in the new cast of Dirty Dancing (See News, 28 May 2010). Bruce will make her professional debut as a member of the ensemble, covering the lead role of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman.