Full cast announced for Memphis at Shaftesbury

Full casting has been announced for the West End premiere of Memphis the Musical, which opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre in October.

Joining Beverley Knight (Felicia Farrell) and Killian Donnelly (Huey Calhoun) in the principal cast are Rolan Bell (Delray), Tyrone Huntley (Gator), Claire Machin (Gladys), Jason Pennycooke (Bobby) and Mark Roper (Mr Simmons).

The cast also includes Keisha Atwell, Arielle Campbell, Mark Carroll, Joseph Davenport, Momar Diagne, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Kimmy Edwards, Hillary Elk, Laura Ellis, Charlotte Gorton, Benjamin Harrold, Waylon Jacobs, Rachel John, Dean Maynard, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Tim Newman, Simon Ray-Harvey, Jon Robyns, Ashley Rumble, Kyle Seeley, Helen Siveter, Dawnita Smith and Alex Thomas.

Winner of four Tony Awards including Best Musical, Memphis centres on a black singer whose career is on the rise, but who can't break out of segregated clubs of 1950's Memphis Tennessee.

Then she meets a white radio DJ whose love of music transcends race lines and airwaves. When the two collaborate, her soulful music reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the Golden Era of early rock 'n' roll takes flight. But as things start to heat up, whether the world is really ready for their music – or their love – is put to the test.

Memphis features a story by Joe DiPietro and an original score by DiPietro and Bon Jovi's David Bryan.

Bryan, Knight and Donnelly performed songs from the show at a launch event held this morning at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho. Look out for our interviews from the event on the website soon.