Images of Joanne Riddings
Images of Joanne Riddings

Star Cast Announced for ‘Gypsy: A Musical Fable’

A host of West End Stars are heading to Buxton this summer for Buxton Opera House and BIF’s eagerly awaited production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable.

Following the huge success of A Little Night MusicGypsy opens on Thursday 7 July and promises to be one of the highlights of Buxton’s cultural calendar.

Joanna Riding on stage at Buxton Opera House

Double Olivier Award winning actor Joanna Riding stars in the highly coveted role of Rose.  A well-known face on stage, screen and television, she has appeared in numerous musical theatre productions including: Follies; Billy Elliot; My Fair Lady; Carousel; Guys and Dolls; The Girls; and A Little Night Music. She has appeared in: Holby CityMidsomer MurdersCasualtyThe Royal; and Heartbeat. In 2014, she played Cinderella’s Mother in Rob Marshall’s film version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

Joanna will now be joined by Monique Young, as Louise aka Gypsy Rose Lee. Monique has appeared numerous hit musicals including Mary Poppins in the West End and 42nd Street at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris.

David Leonard with Janie Dee in A Little Night Music
David Leonard with Janie Dee in A Little Night Music

Also appearing are: David Leonard as Herbie. David appeared as Frederik in A Little Night Music in Buxton and recent appearances include Matilda (RSC in London),The Pitmen Painters (Royal National Theatre) and Billy Flynn in Chicago (Leicester Curve). Hannah Everest plays June. Her appearances include The Sound of Music, Annie and Oliver! (Leicester Curve). Rebecca Lisewski is Mazeppa. Her many West End appearances include Mamma Mia! Carousel and Strictly Ballroom. She is joined by Aiesha Naomi Pease (Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert), as Electra and Tiffany Graves, ( Kiss Me Kate, The Producers and The Boyfriend), as Tessie Tura. Liam Dean is Tulsa and James Rockey is Uncle Jocko.

Other roles are played by Michael Dean-Wilson; Lisa Dent; Callum Mann; Alex O’Reilly; Megan Hollie Robertson and Samuel Ashall.

Paul Kerryson, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Buxton Opera House, said ‘The Buxton Opera House and Buxton International Festival join forces again to bring this great musical to the stage of the Opera House for the first time. We are excited to welcome audiences to what will be a great night out.’

Buxton International Festival’s Artistic Director Adrian Kelly added ‘It is particularly exciting that the Festival’s collaboration with the Buxton Opera House is continuing this year with Gypsy. The last few years have been hugely challenging for everybody in the performing arts, and we are delighted to be working together once more, to be bring this wonderful piece of musical theatre to life.’

Click here to book your tickets now!