The current touring version of EVITA is set to return to the West End this summer, replacing Gary Barlow’s Musical The Girls at the Phoenix Theatre from 28 July 2017.
The story of an ordinary woman’s meteoric rise to power at a time of extraordinary political unrest, Evita is set to captivate West End audiences again as it makes a much anticipated return to London, playing 12 weeks at the Phoenix Theatre from 28 July – 14 October 2017, with a press Gala performance on Wednesday 2nd August at 7pm.
The season marks the 65th anniversary of the death of Eva Perón which will be commemorated in Argentina in July. This enigmatic figure, whose rise from humble beginnings to extraordinary wealth and power is immortalised in the musical Evita, passed away on 26 July 1952 and was laid in state exactly 65 years prior to the commencement of this latest West End season.
Taking on the iconic role of Eva Perón is one of musical theatre’s most exciting young leading ladies Emma Hatton, who has performed the lead role of Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, the principle roles of Scaramouche and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, and Donna in the West End production of Dreamboats and Petticoats.
Leading Italian performer Gian Marco Schiaretti plays Che, a character who reflects the voice of the Argentine people. Linked to Eva by destiny; he brings balance to the story of Eva’s rise to fame. Gian Marco Schiaretti most recently played the title role of Tarzan in Disney’s Musical Tarzan, in Stuttgart. Prior to this he played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet across Italy.
The cast is completed by Oscar Balmaseda, Sarah O’Connor, George Arvidson, Lewis Barnshaw, Jessica Ellen, Callum Fitzgerald, Kellie Gnauck, Dominic Adam Griffin, Joe McCourt, Jude Neill, Jordan Oliver, Chrissie Perkins, Oliver Slade, Matias Stegmann and Yuval Zoref.
Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.
I haven’t seen the current touring production of Evita so look forward to seeing it in the West End this summer. One of my reviewing team covered the show for me in Liverpool earlier this year and gave it a glowing review. So let’s hope it is better than the last time it came back to the West End in 2014 which I sadly gave a rare one star review of at the Dominion Theatre!
REVIEW: EVITA (Liverpool Empire) ★★★★ – January 2017
REVIEW: Evita at the Dominion Theatre ★ – September 2014
