Cast announced for Close Up – The Twiggy Musical at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of Close Up – The Twiggy Musical.
Based on the life of model Dame Lesley Lawson – aka Twiggy – the new show has been written and directed by Ben Elton.
The world premiere production will run from 18 September – 18 November 2023 at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Meet the cast!
Elena Skye is to star as Twiggy with Lauren Azania AJ King-Yombo (Kay), Matt Corner (Justin de Villeneuve), Darren Day (Michael Witney), Beth Devine (Sally), Aoife Dunne (Cindy), Hannah-Jane Fox (Nell Hornby) and Steven Serlin (Norman Hornby).
Completing the cast are Emma-Katie Adcock, Liam Buckland, Harriet Bunton, Leanne Garretty, Luke Johnson, David McIntosh, Danny Nattrass, Sydney Spencer and Karen Walker.
Twiggy said: “It’s very unexpected, but truly an honour, to see my own life translated onto stage – and I can’t imagine a better, more generous, collaborator than Ben. I’ve been approached before about sharing my story, but never has the alchemy felt so right.”
Ben Elton added: “I’m thrilled to be bringing Twiggy’s incredible story to the stage, with an amazing creative team at the Menier – the perfect home to begin our journey. Very London, very authentic, and such wonderful intimacy in which to stage this musical. In Elena, we’ve found a glorious talent – not just a unique voice, but someone who’s funny, honest and utterly authentic, very much like Twiggy herself.”
The story of a skinny kid from Neasden who became the most famous teenager on the planet and the ‘face of the 1960’s may seem like the stuff of fairy tales, but there is tragedy as well as triumph in this intimate portrayal of a true 20th century icon.
It’s the story of a young working class woman who faced snobbery and sexism in a pre-Me Too world and yet achieved her dreams without ever compromising who she was.
The production has choreography by Jacob Fearey, set and video design by Tim Bird, costume design by Jonathan Lipman, sound design by Gregory Clarke and musical supervision, direction and orchestrations by Stuart Morley.
For more information and tickets, visit menierchocolatefactory.com
