X Factor winner Matt Terry to lead cast of Madagascar musical

Matt Terry – winner of X Factor 2016 – will make his acting debut as Alex the Lion in the new stage adaptation of DreamWorks' Madagascar, which opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre in July prior to a UK tour.

The new musical will follow all the film's favourite animals as they escape from New York's Central Park Zoo and head off on an unexpected journey to the world of King Julien's Madagascar.

Since winning Simon Cowell's X Factor, Matt Terry had a top three hit with his winner's single "When Christmas Comes Around" (written by Ed Sheeran), before releasing his debut album Trouble in November 2017.

Terry says: "I am so excited to be making my acting debut in Madagascar – The Musical. It's a childhood memory for all of us! I can't wait to be playing the lead role of Alex and bringing him to life. Expect incredible costume, set and cast. And the music is immense! It will be an awesome night for everyone to enjoy. See you all there."

The cast will also feature Antoine Murray-Straughan, Timmika Ramsay, Jamie Lee-Morgan, Shane McDaid, Laura Johnson, Jessica Niles, Victoria Boden, Matthew Pennington and Darren John.

The Selladoor production will be directed by Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise, design by Tom Rogers, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound by Chris Whybrow, musical supervision from Mark Crossland and puppet direction from Emma Brunton.

After New Wimbledon Theatre, the tour will call at Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Southend, Blackpool, Bridlington, Bromley, Edinburgh, Bristol, Ipswich, Bradford, Derry, Exeter, Brighton, Grimsby, Liverpool, Reading, Woking, Wirral, Belfast, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Eastbourne, Swansea and Hull.