A dynamicall-male cast have been announced for the return of Sasha Regan’s most critically acclaimed production, Iolanthe – one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous operettas.
Torches flash in the darkness as a party of naughty schoolboysadventure into the magical surroundings of an old theatre. Amid all the backstage paraphernalia they discover a Narnia-like wardrobe and a dusty copy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. What follows is pure magic.
The exciting cast are: Reece Budin (Matilda the Musical, The Civic in Australia), Michael Burgen (Spamalot, Playhouse Theatre), Richard Carson (Miss Saigon, Prince Edward Theatre), Christopher Finn (Alice’s Adventures Underground, The Vaults), James Gulliford (Labyrinth, Hampstead Theatre), Dominic Harbison (Annie Get Your Gun, Union Theatre), Joe Henry (Cats, UK/International Tour), Alastair Hill (Dreamboats and Petticoats, UK Tour), Jack Hinton (Christmasaurus: Live!, Eventim Hammersmith Apollo), Jamie Jukes (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, UK Tour), Sam Kipling (The Habit or Art, National Theatre), Daniel Miles (All-Male Mikado, UK Tour), Benjamin Mundy (Annie, Piccadilly Theatre), Adam Pettit (The 12 Tenors 10th Anniversary Tour, European Tour), Richard Russell Edwards (All-Male Mikado, UK Tour) and Duncan Sandilands (Carousel, Barbican).
Universally regarded as Sir Arthur Sullivan’s most beautiful score, Iolantheis a topsy-turvy love story between the most unlikely of couples… fairies and members of the House of Lord’s! Sasha Regan’s inimitable inventiveness combined with Gilbert and Sullivan’s inherent barminess make for an unmissable night out.
Sasha Regan comments, Iolanthe is a beautiful piece to direct and I can’t wait to revisit it after nearly eight years. Mark Smith and I wanted to make a world of elegant and magical fairies so Mark, as a deaf choreographer, has incorporated sign language into all the movement – it’s definitely a challenge for the company to learn but the end result is worth it. This is a hilarious and tender piece that is simply a joy to direct.
For tour dates and tickets visit www.rdww.co.uk/iolanthe/
Photo: Kay Young Photography
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