Louise English is reprising her highly acclaimed leading lady role as Rosa, a beautiful and mysterious Irish fortuneteller, in a national tour of the smash-hit West End musical All The Fun Of The Fair, alongside pop legend David Essex as Levi Lee, which opens 16 September 2011 at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, and tours through 14 April 2012.
Ms English is one of the UK's leading musical theatre stars and has led West End shows and national tours to record-setting success. And she is well-known to Birmingham area theatergoers, having earned rave reviews for her roles as Grace Farrell in Annie and Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! and in many other national tours that played sold-out runs at the New Alexandra Theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Wolverhampton Grand, the Malvern Grand, and the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. She is also one of few British actors to have an international following, including a large fan base in the United States.
Set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair and packed with dazzling stunt sequences, hilarious crafty cons and plenty of rock ‘n' roll, All The Fun Of The Fair is an action-packed musical from legendary singer and songwriter David Essex and the creator of Boogie Nights, Jon Conway.
As widower and funfair owner Levi Lee, David Essex is struggling to fend off the unwelcome attentions of an alluring and attractive divorcee whilst trying to keep up with the ins and outs of his son's tangled love life and lofty ambitions. And what is he to make of the dangerous predictions of the fair's mysterious gypsy fortuneteller, Rosa (played by Louise English), warning him about what the future has in store?
Inspired by David's debut album, this roller-coaster ride is underscored by a helter-skelter of hits such as Winter's Tale, Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You A Star, Me and My Girl Nightclubbing, Silver Dream Machine and Rock On.
But, as David explains, "It's more a play with music; it's not a jukebox show." For example, his early hit Rock On is introduced as he and Louise reminisce about the "old days". The sets are impressive as well, including cast-driven dodgem cars, carousel horses and motor bikes.
And don't miss the original cast recorded All The Fun Of The Fair - The Musical compact disc as well as the West End cast version. Both feature Louise's beautiful solo interpretation of A Winter's Tale and her duet of You're In My Heart with David Essex as well as all of the wonderful All The Fun Of The Fair - The Musical songs.
We hope that you, your colleagues and all of your readers will find Louise English in All The Fun Of The Fair to be a great thrill.
Joining Louise and David Onstage are:
Susan Hallam-Wright as Mary
Tanya Robb as Alice
David Burrows as Harvey
Tim Newman as Jonny
Barry Bloxham as Druid
Additional cast to be announced.
All The Fun Of The Fair Production and Creative Team:
Producer: Alan Darlow
Director: Nikolai Foster
Book by: Jon Conway
Set and costume design: Ian Westbrook
Lighting design: Ben Cracknell
Sound and effects: Steve Jonas
All The Fun Of The Fair 2011-2012 Tour Schedule:
2011-Week Of: Venue
16 September New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
20 September Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-sea
27 September Richmond Theatre Royal
4 October Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh
11 October Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
18 October Norwich Theatre Royal
25 October Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
1 November Regent Theatre, Stoke
8 November Orchard Theatre, Dartford
15 November New Wimbledon Theatre
21 November Bath Theatre Royal
28 November New Theatre, Cardiff
2012-Week Of: Venue
17 January New Victoria Theatre, Woking
24 January Opera House, Manchester
31 January Theatre Royal, Nottingham
7 February Milton Keynes Theatre
14 February Broadway Theatre, Peterborough
20 February Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
28 February King's Theatre, Glasgow
5 March Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
13 March TBA
20 March Hull New Theatre
26 March Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
3 April Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
10 April Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
TBA = To Be Announced
The latest show information including booking links, interviews, pictures and CDs, is available on the Louise English Fan Centre at: http://www.LouiseEnglishFanCentre.com .
