Newton Faulkner joins cast of American Idiot

The singer-songwriter will play Johnny from 10 May, taking over the role from Matt Thorpe who will open the tour at Leicester Curve on 19 March.

Other casting includes former X Factor contestant Amelia Lily (Whatsername), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Lucas Rush (St Jimmy) and Steve Rushton (Will), who all reprise their roles from the West End production

Further casting confirmed also includes Cellen Chugg Jones (Theo), Jemma Geanaus (Alysha), Karina Hind (Libby), Emma Housley (Heather), Lawrence Libor (Swing) and Alice Stokoe (Extraordinary Girl).

Faulkner said "My first ever band was essentially a Green Day cover band, with one of the guys currently in the show, Lucas Rush, so it's amazingly strange to be reunited under these circumstances. I can't wait. The first record I ever bought was Dookie, so yea, I was a massive Green Day fan, still am."

With direction and choreography by Racky Plews and musical supervision by Richard Morris, American Idiot tells the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world.

It features hit Green Day songs including "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "21 Guns", "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and the title track "American Idiot".

Confirmed venues for the UK Tour include the Curve Theatre, Leicester (19-26 March), Churchill Theatre, Bromley (30 March – 2 April), Palace Theatre, Manchester (5-9 April), New Theatre, Cardiff (19-23 April), Kings Theatre, Portsmouth (26-30 April), New Theatre, Oxford (3-7 May), New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (10-14 May), Exeter Northcott Theatre (18-22 May), Sunderland Empire (24-28 May), King’s Theatre, Glasgow (31 May – 4 June), Spa Theatre, Bridlington (7-11 June), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (14-18 June), Empire Theatre, Liverpool (21-25 June) and the Grand Opera House, Belfast (28 June – 2 July).

The West End production of American Idiot, which ran at the Arts Theatre last year, is nominated for seven WhatsOnStage Awards this year, including Best Musical Revival. Find out the winners when they are announced on Sunday 21 February.