Cilla The Musical is a jukebox musical written by Jeff Pope based on the early career and music of Cilla Black and Pope's 2014 ITV drama biopic of the same name.
| Cilla | |
|---|---|
| The Musical | |
 Original UK tour poster | |
| Music | Various |
| Lyrics | Various |
| Book | Jeff Pope |
| Basis | The life and music of Cilla Black and Cilla (2014 TV series) by Jeff Pope |
| Premiere | 1 September 2017: Liverpool Empire Theatre |
| Productions | 2017 UK tour |
Production
editOriginal UK tour (2017–18)
editProduced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, the production opened at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from 7 September 2017 before touring the UK, starring Kara Lilly Hayworth as Cilla and Andrew Lancel as Brian Epstein.[1] The production was directed by Kenwright and Bob Tomson, choreographed by Carole Todd, set and costume designed by Gary McCann, lighting designed by Nick Richings, sound designed by Dan Samson, wigs designed by Richard Mawbey, with Scott Alder as musical director and Gary Hickeson as musical producer and orchestral arrangement.
The production was scheduled to begin another from September 2020 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, starring Sheridan Smith reprising her role as Cilla from the TV series, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 29 November 2020 at the Royal Variety Performance, Smith performed "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "You're My World" from the musical, opposite Andrew Lancel who was due to reprise the role of Brian Epstein.
Musical numbers
editCast and characters
edit| Character | 2017 UK tour |
|---|---|
| Cilla Black | Kara Lilly Hayworth |
| Bobby | Alexander Patmore |
| Brian Epstein | Andrew Lancel |
| Big Cilla | Jayne Ashley |
| John White | Neil MacDonald |
| Johnny Hutchinson | Tom Dunlea |
| Pat | Billie Hardy |
| Rose Willis | Harriette Mullen |
| Pauline | Gemma Brodrick-Bower |
| Ringo Starr | Bill Caple |
| Paul McCartney / Denny Doherty | Joe Etherington |
| Kenny Willis | Timothy Lucas |
| John Lennon | Michael Hawkins |
| Gerry Marsden | Alan Howell |
| Adrian Barber / John Phillips | Jay Osborne |
| George Harrison | Alex Harford |
| Daniel | Gary Mitchinson |
| Beryl / Swing | Chloe Edwards-Wood |
| George Martin | Tom Sowinski |
| John Gustafson | Christopher Weeks |
References
edit- ^ "Cilla the Musical finds its leading lady | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Sheridan Smith to star in Bill Kenwright's Cilla The Musical". LondonTheatre1. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.