Adrian Mole musical gets Leicester première

Published: 27 February 2015
Reporter: Steve Orme

The Pandoras: Imogen Gurney, Lulu-Mae Pears and Elise Bugeja
Joel Fossard-Jones, Lewis Andrews, Sebastian Croft and Toby Murray will share the role of Adrian Mole Credit: Pamela Raith

Leicester’s favourite teenager Adrian Mole is to commentate on everything that happens around him in a new musical that has its world première at the city’s Curve Theatre.

Set in 1980s Leicester, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾—The Musical follows the daily dramas and misadventures of Adrian’s adolescent life.

With dysfunctional parents, ungrateful elders, a growing debt to school bully Barry Kent and an unruly pimple on his chin, Adrian finds that life is hard for a misunderstood intellectual.

On top of that, when new girl Pandora joins the class and captures his heart, his best friend Nigel steals her. Can Adrian win her love and escape from his chaotic family life?

Director Luke Sheppard said finding the right actors for Sue Townsend’s characters was an “invigorating and rewarding task”. An extensive search included auditioning more than 400 children for parts in the musical which has book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary.

The role of Adrian will be shared by Lewis Andrews, Sebastian Croft, Joel Fossard-Jones and Toby Murray. Pandora will be played by Elise Bugeja, Imogen Gurney and Lulu-Mae Pears. George Barnden, Kwame Kandekore and Samuel Small will take the role of Nigel and Barry will be played by Edward Cross, James McJannett-Smith and Harrison Slater.

The rest of the cast includes Rosemary Ashe (Grandma), Cameron Blakely (Mr Lucas), Amy Booth-Steel (Miss Elf, Doreen Slater and Mrs Lucas), Neil Ditt (George Mole), Kirsty Hoiles (Pauline Mole) and Neil Salvage (Bert Baxter).

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ was Sue Townsend’s first novel and was published in 1982. It has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages.

Joining Luke Sheppard on the creative team will be Tim Jackson (choreographer), Paul Herbert (musical arranger), Mark Collins (musical director), Tom Rogers (designer), Paul Groothius (sound designer), Howard Hudson (lighting designer) and Sally Wilson (costume supervisor).

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾—The Musical runs at Curve from Saturday 7 March until Saturday 4 April. Press night will be on Tuesday 17 March.

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