The parody musical is hitting the open road
Casting has been revealed for the forthcoming tour of Tony! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera], penned by Harry Hill and Steve Brown.
Based on the life of the slightly notorious former Prime Minister, the show is directed by Peter Rowe.
Appearing in the cast will be Jack Whittle as Tony Blair, Howard Samuels as Peter Mandelson, Tori Burgess as Cherie Blair, Phil Sealey as Gordon Brown, Martin Johnston as Neil Kinnock, Rosie Strobel as John Prescott, Sally Cheng as Robin Cook, Emma Jay Thomas as Princess Diana and William Hazell as on-stage cover. Additional characters portrayed by the company include the likes of Saddam Hussein, Liam Gallagher, Alastair Campbell and Osama bin Laden, among many others.
The production features set and costume design by Libby Watson, lighting design by Mark Dymock and choreography by Francesca Jaynes. It was also keen to clarify: “Neither Tony Blair, the Tony Blair Institute, nor any other person featured in this production have endorsed the production or its marketing materials and are in no way affiliated with the production.”
Following a London run at the Leicester Square Theatre from 15 April to 21 May, the tour will visit Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud, Birmingham Rep, Cardiff New Theatre, Richmond Theatre, Brighton Theatre Royal, Bath Theatre Royal, Chester Storyhouse, Malvern Festival Theatre, Darlington Hippodrome and Sedgefield Parish Hall (within Blair’s former constituency), Edinburgh Festival Fringe and The Lowry in Salford. Further dates are to be announced in due course.