Photos: Gareth Gates, Aaron Sidwell & Lil’ Chris launch WYP Loserville

Directed by Steven Dexter, Loserville will open at West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Quarry Theatre on 26 June (previews from 18 June), running to 14 July 2012.

Set in 1971, Loserville sees computer geek Michael Dork about to invent something revolutionary, however he has also discovered… girls.

Aaron Sidwell (EastEnders) plays super-geek and computer wiz kid Michael, with Gareth Gates (Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) in the role of Michael’s nemesis and school rich kid Eddie. Lil’ Chris (Rock School) plays sci-fi obsessed Francis.

They are joined in the cast by Charlotte Harwood (Legally Blonde tour) as Eddie’s girlfriend, Eliza Hope Bennett (Inkheart) who takes on the role of beautiful and smart Holly and newcomer Richard Lowe plays Michael’s best friend Lucas.

Other cast members include: Jade Albertsen, Sophie Ayers, Laura Bennett, Robbie Boyle, Matthew Bradley, Daniel Buckley, Andrew Carthy, Lauren Hall, Dan Krikler, Duncan Leighton, Megan Louch, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Sarah Watson and Witney White.

Musician and songwriter James Bourne has written four number one hit songs and played to sold-out arenas across the UK as a member of pop-rock bands Busted and Son of Dork. As an artist and songwriter it is estimated Bourne has sold over 6 million records. The original musical is inspired by Son of Dork’s 2005 debut album Welcome to Loserville.

Davis’ musical Best Frends and Butterflies won the TicketMaster Composer Award and Best Musical for Young People. He co-wrote the music for Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi which won the TMA Award for Outstanding Musical and has also written documentaries for the BBC on music stars from the Bee Gees to Freddie Mercury.

Director Steven Dexter‘s recent credits include West End productions of La Cava, Romance! Romance!, Peter Pan and The Pirates of Penzance.

Loserville has choreography by Nick Winston, set design by Francis O’Connor, costume by Francis O’Connor and Stephen Snell, lighting by Howard Harrison, sound by Simon Baker, orchestrations and vocal arrangements by Martin Lowe, Elliot Davis and James Bourne, musical supervision by Martin Lowe and musical direction by Jim Henson.

Loserville is a co-production between West Yorkshire Playhouse, Kevin Wallace for First Act! Limited and Youth Music Theatre UK.