Cast announced for world premiere of new musical Berlusconi in London

Casting has been revealed for the world premiere of new musical Berlusconi in London.

Described as a “naughty, noisy exposé” about Italy’s former Prime Minister, the piece will run at Southwark Playhouse’s new Elephant space from 25 March – 29 April 2023.

Ahead of rehearsals beginning in February, full casting has been revealed for the premiere production.

Making up the company are McCallam Connell (The Colour Purple, UK Tour) as the Judge, John Conroy (Half a Sixpence, Noel Coward) as Luigi, Susan Fay (The Girls, UK Tour) as Mama Rosa, Jenny Fitzpatrick (A Christmas Carol, The Old Vic) as Fama, Natalie Kassanga (Dreamgirls, UK Tour) as Bella, Emma Hatton (Wicked, West End) as Veronica, Sebastien Torkia (RSC’s Matilda The Musical, West End) as Silvio Berlusconi, Sally Ann Triplett (Cabaret, Lido 2 Paris) as Ilda, Gavin Wilkinson (Guys and Dolls, Théâtre Marigny) as Vladimir Putin and Matthew Woodyatt (Piaf, Nottingham Playhouse) as Antonio.

Berlusconi is an urgent and prescient story about a brand of political leadership that has become all too familiar. With soaring melodies and driving beats, this hilarious and outrageous new musical assembles an award-winning team to tell the astonishing, outlandish, almost true story of one of the world’s most charismatic, charming and morally dubious political leaders.

As Silvio tries to enshrine his legacy by grandiosely writing the opera of his life, his detractors are closing in…

Written by Ricky Simmonds and Simon Vaughan, the show is produced by Francesca Moody Productions and Thomas S. Barnes and directed by James Grieve.

The creative team includes choreographer Rebecca Howell, set & costume designer Lucy Osborne, musical supervisor, arranger and co-orchestrator Paul Schofield, musical director Jordan Li Smith, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, sound designer Dan Samson, video designer Stanley Orwin Fraser for Duncan McClean Projection, music production and co-orchestrator Lewis Andrews.

Original vocal score and original vocal arrangements are by David White with Math Roberts as associate musical director and casting by Will Burton CDG. Associate produced by Alex Cooke and Alan Hayling, based on an original idea by Alan Hayling.

For more information and tickets, visit southwarkplayhouse.co.uk