Have we got news for you: this spring, comedy icon Paul Merton is set to make his West End debut in Hairspray. Is it April yet?
On the 23rd of April 2020, Hairspray The Musical touches down at the London Coliseum. Running until the 29th of August, this new adaptation looks set to be better than ever. Already a firm-favourite in the contemporary musical theatre canon, Hairspray takes Baltimore as its stage. The year is 1942, and our focus is Tracy Turnblad, a local teen with big hair and even bigger dreams. With ambitions to land a role on a TV dance program, she unwittingly becomes the subject of social change in her refusal to be contained by societal standards surrounding physical beauty.
In 2003, the year after its opening in Seattle, Hairspray was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning a staggering eight (including Best Musical). The production has seen countless performances, both nationally and internationally, with a translation onto the big screen in 2007 (starring John Travolta). The original London production secured four Olivier Awards after being nominated in a record-breaking 11 categories. Michael Ball was one such recipient that night, taking home the award for Best Actor in a Musical for his turn as Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mother.
Paul Merton (Wilbur) and Michael Ball (Edna).
Here, Ball reprises his role to lead a staggeringly talented cast. Most notably, Paul Merton (comedy icon and regular on BBC’s hit-programme Have I Got News For You) is to make his West End debut as Wilbur, husband to Ball’s Edna. It is Lizzie Bea (recently returned from Atlanta, performing in the world premiere production of Becoming Nancy) that will take on the mighty role of Tracy. Along with West End star Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls, Waitress), Rita Simons (Eastenders) and Jonny Amies (Netflix’s Sex Education), this is a company of bona fide talent.
With its unforgettable score (music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Whittman) that mixes 1960’s style dance music with rhythm and blues, Hairspray features a host of feel-good songs – ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ and ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’, among others – that have worked to earn this musical its stripes. Now brought to the West End by creative duo Jack O’Brien (director) and Jerry Mitchell (choreographer), Hairspray is a must for your 2020 bucket list.
Playing for 18 weeks only, tickets from £20.75
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