Theatre News

Young Frankenstein to close in West End, UK tour and cast recording announced

The production currently stars Hadley Fraser, Summer Strallen and Lesley Joseph

Hadley Fraser in Young Frankenstein
Hadley Fraser in Young Frankenstein
© Manuel Harlan

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein will close at the Garrick Theatre on 25 August after a year in the West End.

The production will then embark on a major UK national tour from September 2019 it has been announced today.

Also announced is an Original West End Cast Recording. Recorded live at the Garrick Theatre over several performances earlier this year, it will be released through all usual outlets in July.

Directed by Susan Stroman, Young Frankenstein opened at the Garrick last year to a host of rave reviews, including a five-star review from WhatsOnStage. Particular praise went to Hadley Fraser's leading Dr Frankenstein, as well as Ross Noble, who went on to win a WhatsOnStage Award for his performance as bumbling sidekick Igor.

Cory English has since replaced Noble, and the cast also includes Lesley Joseph (Frau Blucher), Dianne Pilkington, Summer Strallen and Patrick Clancy.

The show has a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and music and lyrics by Brooks, and tells the story of Frederick Frankenstein who inherits his grandfather's castle in Transylvania. Gene Wilder played the title role in the 1974 film.

Full venue details and dates for the tour will be announced later this year when tickets go on sale.

On the announcement, Brooks said: "Thank you London audiences for embracing Young Frankenstein and for making us such a smash hit in the West End. I'm so happy that soon the rest of the UK will get a chance to see it… so see it before you die or you'll regret it forever!"