The stage version of cult classic comedy Rita, Sue & Bob Too will embark on a new 10-week nationwide tour next spring, with TV favourite Jake Quickenden as Bob.
The show will play 10 venues between February and April, 2025, opening at St Helens Theatre Royal on February 4, followed by Hunstanton, Stockport, New Brighton, Birmingham, Southport, Billingham, Rhyl and Barnstaple, ending at the Liverpool Olympia (April 9-12).
Andrea Dunbar’s gritty tale of love, lust and tested friendships is based on the 1987 British film and features a background of best 1980s music to take audiences down memory lane.
Rita and Sue are two working class girls from a run-down council estate who are about to finish their final year at school. In their spare time, they earn money babysitting for married couple Bob and Michelle.
Behind Michelle’s back, Bob embarks on an affair with both Rita and Sue, who take it in turns with him in his car in the countryside. Michelle eventually finds out and leaves hm. Bob later develops a preference for Rita and the two girls fall out – but when Sue ends up in an abusive relationship, the three are reunited.
Singer Jake Quickenden rose to prominence as a contestant on ITV’s The X Factor. Though he left the show in 2014, he was immediately signed for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here where he finished as runner-up. Other TV appearances include Celebrity SAS and Dancing on Ice, which he won in 2018 with his professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer. He aldso appeared on stage in national tours of The Full Monty, Hair, Footloose and Friendsical, before joining the cast of Hollyoaks as Woody in 2019..
Jake said: “I’m delighted to be joining this brilliant cast. Andrea Dunbar’s play is a classic and I can’t wait to play Bob.”
Jake will be joined by Hollyoaks’ Jessica Ellis as Michelle, Shameless and Coronation Street’s Warren Donnelly as Dad, Britain’s Got Talent’s Siobhan Phillips as Mum, Kay Nicholson as Rita and Jenna Sian O’Hara as Sue.
More info and tickets here