Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke and Cassidy Janson confirmed for Chess West End revival

Casting has been confirmed for the West End production of Chess which opens at the London Coliseum later this year.

The principal cast will be composed of Olivier Award-winner Michael Ball (Les Misérables, Passion, The Phantom of the Opera) as Anatoly, Alexandra Burke (The Bodyguard) as Svetlana, Murray Head (original Chess production, Jesus Christ Superstar) will star as The Arbiter, Tim Howar (Peggy Sue Got Married, On The Town) as Freddie and Cassidy Janson (Beautiful, Tick Tick Boom) as Florence.

The 1984 music by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King) tells the story of two chess champions, Freddie and Anatoly, battling it out in the midst of the Cold War. When it debuted in the West End it starred Elaine Paige, Murray Head and Tommy Korberg, and includes numbers like "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night In Bangkok".

This version of the piece will be directed by Laurence Connor (School of Rock), conducted by John Rigby with choreography by Stephen Mear. It runs in collaboration with ENO at the Coliseum.

Chess runs for a limited season at London's Coliseum from 1 May to 2 June, with previews from 26 April.