Casting for Park Theatre's Rapunzel is announced

Rolan Bell will star in the Park Theatre's new production of Rapunzel.

The Olivier-nominated Bell has recently starred in Memphis the Musical and We Will Rock You. He will play King Gerard in the show, which is a playful take on the tale of a young princess with long golden hair who is stuck in a tower.

Bell also starred as Fela in the Broadway production of Fela! and played Theo Kelly in EastEnders in 2009.

Joining Bell will be Mark Cameron as The Great Gazombees, Aretha Ayeh as Rapunzel and Queen and Avita Jay as Dr Chuff.

The show will be set in the mythical land of Waa, and is the third in the theatre's Chronicles of Waa series – the third of their Christmas shows since they opened in 2013.

Artistic director Jez Bond said "with each fairy tale set in the mythical land of Waa, we have created a world all of our very own…Costumes and settings all add to create this land, which borrows more from Tolkien, Pratchett or Tim Burton than to a traditional English pantomime."

Rapunzel will have an original musical theatre score and has a book, music and lyrics by Bond and Mark Cameron.

Rapunzel runs at the Park Theatre from 3 December to 2 January.