Leicester’s Curve has announced the cast for the world première of Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical.
Director Luke Sheppard said, “finding the right actors to step into the shoes of Sue Townsend's characters has been an invigorating and rewarding task. After an extensive search, which included auditioning more than 400 children, we've found a team of grown-ups and almost-grown-ups who can't wait to start rediscovering these roles for a new generation."
Rosemary Ashe plays Grandma. Her work includes J B Priestley’s When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre in 2010, the Carl Rosa Opera UK and US tours of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, also in 2010, and Mary Poppins, Les Miserables and Oliver! in the West End.
Cameron Blakely who plays Mr Lucas has appeared in Les Miserables in the West End and also the 25th anniversary concert at the O2, the international tour of Mamma Mia! and Where’s Charley?, Paint Your Wagon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Card at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Amy Booth-Steel plays Miss Elf, Doreen Slater and Mrs Lucas. She toured the UK in Betty Blue Eyes, appeared in Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre, played Dolly on the UK and international tour of Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors and was Mrs Mears in the 2012 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury.
Neil Ditt is George Mole. His credits include a weatherman in But First This – A Musical Homage to Radio 4 and Frank Lubey in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, both at the Watermill Theatre in 2014, Carl Zuckmayer’s The Captain of Kopenick at the National Theatre, Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre and The Wind in the Willows and High Society at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Kirsty Hoiles plays Pauline Mole. She won the TMA award for best performance in a supporting role in a musical as Young Viv in Spend Spend Spend at The Watermill Theatre in 2009. She also played Jean in the Birmingham REP and Nottingham Playhouse production of David Edgar’s adaptation of the Julian Barnes novel Arthur and George and has appeared in Les Miserables in the West End.
Bert Baxter will be played by Neil Salvage. His credits include The Mousetrap in the West End and Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Gulliver’s Travels and The Ubu Plays at the National Theatre.
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 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.
Book and lyrics are by Jake Brunger, with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary. 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.