West End cast of Half a Sixpence surprise Cameron Mackintosh for his birthday

To celebrate his 70th birthday, the West End cast of Half a Sixpence, surprised Sir Cameron Mackintosh with a performance of "Flash, Bang, Wallop" on stage at the Noel Coward Theatre.

The producer thought he was visiting the theatre to check on the get-in for the show, which transfers from Chichester Festival Theatre to the West End. But as he stepped onto the stage he was treated to a sneak peek at the cast, currently in rehearsals ahead of beginning previews on 29 October.

The show transfers with the entire cast from Chichester, with Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps and Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick. Ian Bartholomew plays Chitterlow and Emma Williams is Helen Walsingham.

Half a Sixpence tells the story of Arthur Kipps, an orphan and a draper's assistant who unexpectedly inherits a fortune. The new stage version of the musical adaptation of HG Wells's semi-autobiographical novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, brings together Julian Fellowes with writers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the team behind Mary Poppins.

Songs included in the show are "Flash, Bang, Wallop" and "Half a Sixpence".

Half a Sixpence runs at the Noel Coward Theatre from 17 November to 11 February, with previews from 29 October.

Buy tickets for Half a Sixpence here