A new musical version of 101 Dalmatians has been announced

West End Musical Theatre star Kerry Ellis will play Cruella de Vil at the New Theatre Oxford 3- 7 December and Brighton Theatre Royal 17 December 2024 – 5 January 2025, concluding the current UK and Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians The Musical. She follows fellow Cruellas Kym Marsh and Faye Tozer in this production.

The new musical version of Dodie Smith’s classic book, 101 Dalmatians is written by Douglas Hodge (music and lyrics) and Johnny McKnight (book), from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris. The director is Bill Buckhurst, with sets designed by David Woodhead, costumes designed by Sarah Mercadé and choreography by Lucy Hind. Musical supervision is from Alfonso Casado Trigo, orchestration by Jack Hopkins, the puppets are designed by Jimmy Grimes, with lighting by James Whiteside and sound design from Chris Whybrow. The musical director is Leigh Stanford Thompson, and casting director is Lucy Casson.

Kerry Ellis is recognised as the leading lady of West End and Broadway musicals, with a number of starring roles in London, New York, and around the world. She has achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist signed to both Universal Decca Records and Sony Music. Kerry originated the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the worldwide smash, Wicked, for which she won the 2008 Whatsonstage.com Award for ‘Best Takeover in a Role’. She then headed to Broadway to play Elphaba at the Gershwin Theater, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance, before returning to London in the role. Her other leading West End credits include Grizabella in Cats, Nancy in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Miserables, Sara in Murder Ballad and Alice in Wonderland. In 2022 Kerry played Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican to huge acclaim, toured arenas across the UK with Queen Machine and headlined a huge concert in Japan on their biggest TV network.

She joins the existing cast of Charles Brunton (Casper), Victoria Compson-Bradford (Swing), Ross Dorrington (Ensemble), Benjamin Durham (Ensemble), Jessie Elland (Danielle), Benedict Hastings (Ensemble), Danny Hendrix (Jasper), Linford Johnson (Pongo), Lottie Johnson (Ensemble), Rachel Lea-Gray (Ensemble), Tom Norman (Ensemble), Hugo Rolland (Ensemble), Lindo Shinda (Ensemble), Eugene Shire (Swing), Samuel Thomas (Tom), Emma Thornett (Perdi) and Jasmine Triadi (Ensemble).

When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups.

This classic canine caper is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, hilarious songs and irresistible puppies!

101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL 2024 UK TOUR VENUES

New Wimbledon Theatre
22-29 June 2024

The Alexandra, Birmingham
2-6 July 2024

Norwich Theatre Royal
9-13 July 2024

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
16-20 July 2024

Leicester Curve
23-27 July 2024

Palace Theatre, Manchester
30 July – 10 August 2024

Belfast Grand Opera House
13-17 August 2024

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
20-24 August 2024

Newcastle Theatre Royal
27 August – 1 September 2024

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
5-8 September 2024

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Ireland
17 – 21 September 2024