(C) Daniel Boud
Sharon Wattis will join the 2024/2025 UK and Ireland tour of the multi award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, as Mrs Corry and Miss Smythe. Due to personal reasons Sonia Swaby will no longer be appearing in the production.
MARY POPPINS will open at Bristol Hippodrome from 4 November 2024, returning to where the magic originally began and marking the 20th anniversary since the musical’s world premiere.
Sharon Wattis’ theatre credits include Mrs Brown/ Kimbay in the Original London cast of The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, as well as the UK and European tour, Poopsie in The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Heaven on Earth and Love Me Tender both on UK tours, and The Stepmother at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The timeless score includes the classic Sherman Brothers songs; Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Sharon joins the previously announced Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert, who played the roles in Australia to critical and audience acclaim, Michael D. Xavier (Olivier nominee for Into the Woods and Love Story, Sunset Boulevard on Broadway) as George Banks, Lucie-Mae Sumner (West End production of Mary Poppins and Barnum at Menier Chocolate Factory) as Winifred Banks, Rosemary Ashe (original casts of the West End productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Olivier nominee for The Witches of Eastwick) as Mrs Brill, Patti Boulaye (West End and recording star, Carmen Jones at the Old Vic) as Bird Woman, Wendy Ferguson (West End productions of Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall) as Miss Andrew, Ruairidh McDonald (Matilda, West End) as Roberston Ay and David Burrows (West End productions of Half a Sixpence, My Fair Lady and Oliver!) as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Olivia Ainsworth, Olaya Martinez Cambon, Matilda O’Sullivan, Katie Ryden and Florence Amelia Swann will alternate the role of Jane Banks with Charlie Donald, Jude Martin-Thomas, Oscar McCulloch, Joshua Miles and William Stafford alternating the role of Michael Banks.
MARY POPPINS has original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman with new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book is by Julian Fellowes and this production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. It has orchestrations by William David Brohn and dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. It has sound design by Paul Gatehouse and lighting by Hugh Vanstone. Co-Choreography is by Stephen Mear. The set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction is by Richard Eyre.
MARY POPPINS UK TOUR – 2024/2025 TOUR LISTINGS
The following dates will star Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert.
MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2024 – SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2024
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2024 – SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025
BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE, DUBLIN
WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY 2025 – SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025
FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH
WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2025 – SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2025
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 2025 – SATURDAY 17 MAY 2025
PALACE THEATRE MANCHESTER
Casting to be announced for the following dates
WEDNESDAY 16 JULY – SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 2025
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST – SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2025
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
WEDNESDAY 1 – SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2025
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
FURTHER VENUES TO BE ANNOUNCED
