Exclusive first listen to Bananaman the Musical

Marc Pickering and the cast of Bananaman the Musical perform "A Call To Action", ahead of opening at Southwark Playhouse next month.

Matthew McKenna (The Phantom of the Opera) assumes the mantle of the titular superhero and resident of Acacia Road alongside Marc Pickering as Bananaman's arch nemesis Doctor Gloom. Also cast are Jodie Jacobs as Eric’s loyal sidekick, Crow, Mark Newnham as Eric Wimp and Carl Mullaney as General Blight.

The remainder of the cast includes TJ Lloyd, Lizzii Hills, Brian Gilligan, Emma Ralston, Chris McGuigan and Amy Perry.

Leon Parris' musical, based on both the 1980 comic and the TV cartoon which ran between 1983 and 1986, will be directed by Mark Perry with set design from Mike Leopold, musical supervision from Alan Berry, and choreography and associate direction by Grant Murphy.

Bananaman runs at the Southwark Playhouse from 4 January to 20 January, with previews from 15 December.