Casting announced for UK tour of The Commitments

Casting has been announced for the UK tour of The Commitments which opens at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley in October 2016.

Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy will take the role of Jimmy's Da alongside Brian Gilligan as Deco who reprises his role from the original West End production and Andrew Linnie (The Commitments, Palace Theatre) as Jimmy Rabbitte.

The Commitmentettes will be played by Amy Penston (Natalie), Leah Penston (Imelda) and Christina Tedders (Bernie).

Other cast members from the show's two year run at London's Palace Theatre who will join the tour include Peter Mooney (Derek), Padraig Dooney (Dean), Sam Fordham (Mickah), John Currivan (Billy), Rhys Whitfield (James), Alex McMorran (Joey), and Christian James (Outspan).

Adapted from Roddy Doyle's prize-winning novel, The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced.

The show features classic soul songs including "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Knock On Wood", "Try A Little Tenderness" and "Mustang Sally".

Roddy Doyle said: "The Commitments were born in Dublin, moved to London, and will soon be hopping all over the shop. I wrote the novel – invented the characters – in 1986, and it thrills me to think that they will be entertaining audiences throughout the UK and Ireland 30 years later, in 2016."

The Commitments opened in the West End in 2013 and enjoyed a two year run before closing in 2015. Directed by C Jay Ranger, the show will embark on a seven-month tour until May 2017.

The Commitments opens at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 3 October, after which it tours the UK.