Skating legend Robin Cousins will be swapping the ice rink for the West End stage when he joins the cast of the smash-hit musical Grease on 29 March 2010. The former Olympic champion and Dancing on Ice judge will guest star as 'Teen Angel' for a limited season until 19 June 2010 at London's Piccadilly Theatre.
Robin Cousins is one of Britain's most famous and best loved individual ice skaters. He won the World Free Skating Championship Gold medal for three consecutive years from 1978 and rose to the top in 1980, winning World Championship Silver and capping his amateur career with the European Championship and Olympic Gold medals. During his highly successful career as a professional skater, Robin made several appearances as a guest star with Holiday on Ice and Ice Capades (USA). As a director and choreographer, he has worked extensively on shows for the ice spectacular Holiday on Ice including Spirit (currently touring the UK). His choreographic achievements also include ice interpretations of The Wizard of Oz, Starlight Express and Disney's Toy Story along with many shows for his own ice company such as Electric Ice, which enjoyed a worldwide tour and sell-out run in London. Away from the ice, Robin has forged a successful career in theatre including starring roles in acclaimed shows such as Cats, The Rocky Horror Show (in the West End) and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Robin retired from the ice rink in 2000, after 30 years on the ice and 20 years of professional skating. He is currently commentating for the BBC on figure skating at the Winter Olympics 2010, which marks the 3oth anniversary of his Olympic Gold win (Lake Placid, 1980). After this, Robin will return to the ice panel of ITV1's hit show Dancing on Ice where he will reside as head judge for the series before gliding into Grease on 29 March.
Looking forward to starring in Grease, in the role made famous on film by Frankie Avalon, Robin says:
"I am very excited to return to the West End and in such a fun and vibrant show as 'Grease'. I am really looking forward to playing 'Teen Angel' and joining this young and energetic cast."
Grease started the decade with a new cast who joined the show from 25 January 2010. Noel Sullivan stars in the iconic role of 'Danny' with singer and actress Siobhan Dillon as his sweetheart 'Sandy', as the couple follow in the footsteps of screen idols John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John who famously played the roles in the hit 1978 movie. The new class of Rydell High 2010 also includes Matthew Goodgame ('Kenickie'), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt ('Rizzo'), Lucas Rush ('Roger'), Hayley Gallivan ('Jan'), Benjamin Ibbott ('Doody'), Faye Brookes ('Frenchy'), Bennett Andrews ('Sonny'), Robyn Mellor ('Marty'), Michael Vinsen ('Eugene'), Susannah Allman ('Patty'), Kerry Winter '(Miss Lynch') and Stephanie Powell ('Cha Cha'), with other parts played by the ensemble. Heart DJ Toby Anstis currently plays the role of 'Teen Angel' until 20 March.
Siobhan Dillon was discovered through BBC1's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, the first series in which Andrew Lloyd Webber searched for a West End star. Watched by millions, Siobhan was one of the final three and after finishing the programme went on to co-write and record her debut album. Having impressed producer David Ian on How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Siobhan subsequently landed a role in Grease and made her West End debut as 'Patty Simcox' in 2007. She has since appeared in the hugely popular UK tour of Can't Smile Without You as 'Mandy' and more recently starred in the hit musical Cabaret in the lead role of 'Sally Bowles'. Siobhan is currently working on her new album, which she has co-written in the UK and USA. Her first single will launch a new charity that will be the first of its kind.
