Brenda Edwards (Loose Women) who has previously played motormouth Maybelle in three tours of hit musical Hairspray, will join the creative team alongside Paul Kerryson (Chicago, Sweeney Todd and former director of Manchester Library Theatre, Oldham Coliseum and Leicester Curve) to co-direct a new production of Hairspray for a UK and Ireland tour going on into 2025.
Choreographed by Olivier award-winner Drew McOnie (In the Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar), the tour will open at the Palace Theatre in Manchester (July 16-27, 2024). Dates also include Liverpool Empire (August 19-24), Sheffield Lyceum (October 14-19), Hull New Theatre (November 18-23) and Bradford Alhambra (November 25-30). Open auditions will be held in November - see here for details.
Brenda Edwards said: "I couldn’t be more thrilled to be invited to make my directorial debut on the show as a co-director with Paul Kerryson. Hairspray has been a huge part of my life.”
John Waters' brilliantly bad-taste story concerns heroine Tracy Turnblad, who has big hair, a big heart and a big dream – to dance her way on to national TV. When Tracy becomes a local star, she is able to use her new-found fame to fight for liberation, tolerance and interracial unity.
Based on the 1988 film of the same name, Hairspray originally opened on Broadway in 2002 and won eight Tony Awards. The production opened in London in 2007 and won four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
More info and tickets here