Kiss Me, Kate at Sheffield Crucible casting announced

Full casting has been announced for Sheffield Crucible's production of Kiss Me, Kate, which opens on 7 December.

Appearing in the show are Edward Baker-Duly (The King and I) as Fred, Rebecca Lock (Oliver!) as Lilli, Dex Lee (Five Guys Named Moe) as Bill, Amy Ellen Richardson (Sweet Charity) as Lois, Delroy Atkinson (Sylvia) as Gangster 1, Cindy Belliot (Sweet Charity) as Hattie, John Conroy (Half a Sixpence) as Baptista, Dafydd Emyr (Kick the Breeze) as Harrison Howell, Ross McLaren (It Happened in Key West) as Gremio, Joel Montague (Fat Friends) as Gangster 2, Adam Rhys-Charles (Anything Goes) as Hortensio, Matthew Whennell-Clark (Young Frankenstein) as Ralph and Layton Williams (Rent) as Paul.

Also cast are Jessica Buckby, Ronan Burns, Louis Gaunt, Ruby Greenwood, Tash Holway (also assistant choreographer and dance captain), Jennifer Louise Jones, Bobbie Little, Emmanuele N'Zuzi, Simon Oskarsson and Clancy Ryan.

The production has design by Janet Bird, choreography by Matt Flint, musical direction by James McKean, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Mike Walker, casting by Will Burton and fight direction by Kate Waters.

The show, written by Samuel and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, is a musical retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and features the classic songs "Too Darn Hot", "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" and "So In Love".