George Jones and Fanta Barrie cast in Sheffield and Blackpool co-production of Summer Holiday
Sheffield Theatres and Blackpool Grand Theatre have announced casting for their upcoming co-production of Summer Holiday The Musical, scheduled to run this summer. The production brings fresh energy to the classic musical based on the 1963 film, featuring well-known hits and a spirited holiday adventure.
The co-production of Summer Holiday The Musical, directed by Sheffield Theatres’ artistic director Elizabeth Newman alongside Ben Occhipinti, opens at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on 20 June and runs until 18 July before transferring to Blackpool Grand Theatre from 29 July to 8 August.
Based on the original film directed by Peter Yates with a screenplay by Ronald Cass and Peter Myers, the stage adaptation is by Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan, presented by special arrangement with StudioCanal. The plot follows Don and his friends as they journey through Paris, the Alps, Italy, and Greece, encountering runaway pop stars and holiday romance.
The cast features George Jones, known for Witness for the Prosecution, as Don, and Fanta Barrie as Barbara. Other cast members include Jim Duah as Edwin, Ava Duncan in the ensemble, Charlie Hale as Swing, and Nis Raza Hamilton as Angie. The ensemble is rounded out by a diverse group of performers with credits from shows such as Come From Away, The Railway Children, and Gypsy.
The creative team bringing this production to life includes set and costume designer Amanda Stoodley, musical director Richard Reeday, movement director Lesley Hutchison, lighting designer Rory Beaton, and sound designer Tom Marshall. Orchestrations are by Keith Strachan, with associate direction by Eilidh Gibson and casting by Arthur Carrington.
Newman and Occhipinti described Summer Holiday as “pure joy – full of freedom, adventure, music and heart,” emphasising their intention to deliver a vibrant and uplifting show that captures the spirit of the classic musical.
Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International on behalf of Josef Weinberger Limited, the production features classic hits including “The Young Ones,” “Living Doll,” and the title song “Summer Holiday,” promising a nostalgic yet energised theatrical experience for audiences in Sheffield and Blackpool.
