ZIPP! CREATOR GYLES BRANDRETH ‘EXCITED’ BY NEW PRODUCTION
ZIPP!
South Shields Customs House
Tuesday 19th
- Saturday 23rd September 2017
Writer, broadcaster and former
MP Gyles Brandreth has given his blessing to a production of his hit musical
comedy at The Customs House.
Zipp! One Hundred Musicals for
Less than the Price of One was conceived by Brandreth and stage director and
choreographer Stewart
Nicholls. It opened in 2002 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was followed
by a West End stint
and UK tour.
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Melissa Cavanagh,
Peter Grant, Chloe Hazel Oliver,
Rhys
Chambers and Afnan Iftikhar.
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It has now been revived by Ion
Productions, in association with The Customs House, and rehearsals are well
underway ahead of opening night on Tuesday 19th September.
A fantastic cast has been
assembled for the show, including Afnan Iftikhar, from North Shields, who was a finalist in
ITV’s Superstar, and Melissa Cavanagh, from Sunderland, who appeared on BBC’s The Voice UK.
TV and radio presenter and panto star Peter Grant, who lives in Durham, Rhys Chambers, from South Shields, and London-based Chloe Hazel Oliver
complete the line-up.
Zipp! whizzes through over a
century of Broadway and West End
musicals in 100 minutes, including the complete works of Andrew Lloyd Webber in
60 seconds.
Other musicals featured include
West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Cabaret, Miss Saigon, Grease and The Rocky
Horror Show.
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Melissa
Cavanagh, Peter Grant, Chloe Hazel Oliver,
Afnan
Iftikhar and Rhys Chambers look over their scripts during rehearsals.
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Brandreth said: “When Zipp! first hit the stage,
nobody knew what to expect. I don't know what to expect when this new
production hits South Shields, but I'm excited.
“I've heard
brilliant things about how it's shaping up and I think we're in for an evening
of amazing music and a lot of laughter. The show is a celebration of the
greatest musicals ever created - plus a couple you've never heard of. It's fast
moving, funny and I'm thrilled it's being given new life by an exciting and
innovative company that promises a unique night to remember. Who can resist the
complete works of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 60 seconds? When we
opened in Edinburgh in 2002 Zipp! won the Audience Award as most popular show of
the Festival. I'm hoping it's going to prove to be The Customs House's most
popular show of the year.”
Gareth Hunter, artistic director of Ion Productions, has been keen to bring Zipp! to The Customs House for several years, after seeing the show himself.
He said: “It is a comedy musical revue, with a selection of
songs from the musicals, but all done in a very zany, madcap and humorous way. There is nothing serious about the show. It is a really good
fun night out, with songs that will stick in your head and laughs that will
make your belly ache. There is a lot of banter with the audience and they are a
big part of the show. A lot of it is quite spontaneous, so it is going to be
different every night.”
Afnan graduated from Northumbria University with a first class honours degree in
performance and went on to further his education in New York with the Broadway Artist’s Alliance. He has since worked professionally
worldwide on both stage and screen.
Melissa was chosen by Boy George to be one of the 12 artists
on his team on BBC’s The Voice UK in 2016. She now lives in London and is pursuing her love of singing
and musical theatre.
Peter produces and presents The Week and
Behind Closed Doors on Made in Tyne and Wear and is also a regular on BBC Radio Newcastle and Look North. He
also has four professional pantomime appearances under his belt.
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Melissa Cavanagh,
Peter Grant, Chloe Hazel Oliver,
Rhys
Chambers and Afnan Iftikhar.
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Rhys is musical director at South Tyneside Academy of Musical
Performance and a former member of The Waiters. He can play 17 instruments and
is studying music at Durham University.
Chloe is a trained actress, puppeteer and singer with
experience in movement and dance, most recently appearing in Naked Truth at the
Leicester Square Theatre in London, which led to a UK tour.
Tickets:
Zipp! runs from Tuesday 19th
- Saturday 23rd September, at 7.45pm, with a Thursday and Saturday
matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets are priced £17, or £15 for
Friends of The Customs House. Contact the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or
visit www.customshouse.co.uk.
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