Full casting has been announced for the brand-new touring production of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise And Fall of Little Voice, starring international YouTube sensation Christina Bianco in the title role.
Akshay Gulati (The Family Way; East is East; The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, all Bolton Octagon) will play Billy, Anna Hale (London Road, Cuba Pictures/BBC Films) will understudy the role of LV and Sadie, with William Ilkley (War Horse, UK/ International Tour; The Full Monty, UK Tour; The Mousetrap, West End/ UK Tour), playing cabaret club owner Mr. Boo. The cast is completed by Fiona Mulvaney (The Ferryman, West End; Silent Witness, BBC) as Sadie and James Robert Moore (All That, Lion and Unicorn; Fanny & Stella, Above the Stag) in the role of Phone Man.
They will join the previously announced Shobna Gulati as Mari Hoff, much loved for her roles in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (West End/film) and Coronation Street, and West End leading man Ian Kelsey as Ray Say. Two-time Drama Desk nominee Christina Bianco, whose extraordinary diva videos have been viewed over 25 million times on YouTube, will play LV. Described as ‘the girl of a thousand voices,’ Christina has performed her amazing impressions on many major television programs such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Today Show.
From Judy Garland to Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe to Billie Holliday, Christina Bianco will vividly bring to life performances from the great chanteuses in Cartwright’s tender and life-affirming play.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice won both the Olivier award and Evening Standard award for Best Comedy when it premiered at the National Theatre in 1992 in a production directed by Sam Mendes which transferred to the Aldwych, starring Jane Horrocks and Alison Steadman. Horrocks later reprised the role of LV in a film adaptation also starring Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent.
Meet Little Voice and Mari Hoff. A mother and daughter central to the heart of this Northern fairy-tale, but as far apart in character as can be. Left to her own devices, Little Voice starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, from Judy Garland to Shirley Bassey, and becomes an overnight sensation.
With humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads all performed live on stage, Cartwright’s timeless and iconic tale explores the highs and the lows of small-town dreams, family rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world.
Tour Dates
23 – 26 March 2022
MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton
28 March – 2 April
The Capitol, Horsham
4 – 9 April
Exeter Northcott
11 – 16 April
Malvern Theatres
18 – 23 April
Theatre Clwyd
25 – 30 April
Theatre Royal Brighton
3 May – 7 May 2022
Derby Theatre
9 – 14 May
Salisbury Playhouse
16 – 21 May
Liverpool Playhouse
23 – 28 May
Wakefield Theatre Royal
30 May – 4 June
Crewe Lyceum Theatre
6 – 11 June
The Lowry, Salford
13 – 18 June
Blackpool Grand
21 – 25 June
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
27 June – 2 July
Richmond Theatre
4 – 9 July
York Theatre Royal
11 – 16 July
Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
