New Childcatcher for UK & Ireland Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
by Best of Theatre Staff on Wednesday 23 March 2016, 10:39 am in Cast Changes and Announcements
Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse are delighted to announce Matt Gillett in the role of The Childcatcher in the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, which is touring across the UK and Ireland until February 2017. Matt was already a part of the ensemble when the producers discovered his talent for playing this iconic role.
John Stalker, Executive Producer of Music & Lyrics, said, “We are delighted to offer Matt this starring role having understudied the part of The Childcatcher since the beginning of the show in Leeds. Matt's performance will have everyone on the edge of their seats!” Martin Kemp, who currently plays The Childcatcher, leaves the production on 24 April 2016 and Matt will be taking over the role from 4 May in Milton Keynes.
From 4 May, Matt Gillett, who previously played Bob Crewe in the UK & Ireland Tour of Jersey Boys and appeared in Top Hat in London’s West End, will join Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Caractacus Potts, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Misérables, War of the Worlds) as Truly Scrumptious, Shaun Williamson (The Railway Children, EastEnders) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst, Michelle Collins (EastEnders, Coronation Street) as Baroness Bomburst, and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.
Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd), who plays Caractacus Potts until 24 April, returns to the role on 21 September. Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray), who plays Lord Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst until 24 April, returns to the show from 24 August.
Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O’Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for Mary Poppins, The Slipper and the Rose, The Aristocats and The Jungle Book. The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums.
The film made from Ian Fleming’s classic story has been adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture Licensed Script adapted by Ray Roderick.
This new production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear. There is a live orchestra with Musical Supervision by Stephen Ridley. Set and costume design is by Simon Higlett, lighting design is by Tim Mitchell, sound design is by Ben Harrison and video design is by Simon Wainwright.
There are sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is presented by permission of JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York.