Hairspray West End cast confirmed confirmed in full with Michael Ball, Les Dennis and Rita Simons

The full cast of Hairspray’s upcoming revival in London’s West End has been confirmed.

The original production of Hairspray – directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell – will return to the stage later this year.

Hairspray plays at the London Coliseum from 21 June through to 28 September 2021 with tickets on sale now.

Hairspray London cast 2021

Michael Ball will reprise his role as Edna Turnblad for the revival having won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2008 for his work in the original production.

Comedian Les Dennis will take on the role of Wilbur Turnblad while Rita Simons (EastEnders) will appear as Velma von Tussle and Jonny Amies (Sex Education) as Link Larkin.

Lizzie Bea (Kinky Boots, Becoming Nancy) will star as Tracy Tunblad while Marisha Wallace (Aladdin, Dreamgirls, Waitress) will take the role of Motormouth Maybelle.

Georgia Anderson plays Amber von Tussle, Kimani Arthur plays Little Inez and Dermot Canavan plays Wilbur at certain performances. Mari McGinlay plays Penny Pingleton, Ashley Samuels plays Seaweed J Stubbs and Michael Vinsen plays Corny Collins.

Also in the company are Lori Haley Fox, Imogen Bailey, Pearce Barron, Jordan Benjamin, Joel Cooper, Luke George, Christopher Gopaul, Bradley Judge, Winny Herbert, Lily Laight, Madeleine Lawton, Holly Liburd, Will Luckett, Mireia Mambo, Kody Mortimer, Robyn Rose, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Amy West and Natalie Woods.

Completing the company are Shakira Simpson, Dominic Sibanda, Charles Ruhrmund, Samuel Nicholas, Esme Laudat, Michael Kent, Emma Louise Jones Chanel Edwards-Frederick, Georgia Iudica-Davies, Alice Baker, Philip Catchpole and Gavin Alex Wood.

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Based on the 1980s movie of the same name, Hairspray is set in 1960s Baltimore, Maryland and follows Tracy Turnblad as her dream to dance on The Corny Collins Show turns into a campaign for racial integration.

The musical made its debut on Broadway in 2002 and features a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Hairspray’s first London production opened in 2007, receiving a record-setting eleven Olivier Award nominations of which it won four, including Best Musical.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.

 

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