Aaron Sidwell and Louise English are joining Suzanne Shaw and Paul Nicholas to star in the world premiere of BLOCKBUSTER The Musical, which features the chart- busting hits of the legendary song-writing team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who dominated the pop world in the 1970s and 1980s.
Aaron Sidwell will play the lead character of Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in present day Soho, who is sent back in time to 1972 to perform two good deeds. Aaron - best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders - has just finished a tour of the UK as Tybalt in Romeo And Juliet. His musical theatre credits include: the starring role in Cool Rider: Live (Lyric and Duchess theatres), Michael Dork in Loserville – The Musical(Garrick Theatre); Ham in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales), Jack in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Kyle Gibson in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival).
Louise English (Alice) has played many leading roles in musical theatre. She created the role of ‘Rosa’ opposite David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair in two national tours, a West End season at the Garrick Theatre and a specially recorded DVD version. She spent two years in the West End as ‘Sally Smith’ in Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), was ‘Nancy’ in Oliver! (Kuala Lumpur), ‘Grace Farrell’ in Annie (National Tour), ‘Irene Molloy’ in Hello Dollie! (National Tour), ‘Louise’ in Gypsy (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), ‘Bella Moriarty’ inSherlock Holmes the Musical (Bristol Old Vic & National Tour).
The rest of the cast are: Blair Anderson, Michael Antony, Ami Atkinson, Grace Holdstock, Vickie Hoyles, Alim Jayda, Lee Honey-Jones, Tom Millan, Tom Murphy, Carla Nella, Rosie O’Hare, Micha Richardson, Ryan Ridley.
BLOCKBUSTER The Musical is to get its world premiere at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford from Thursday 11 - Saturday 20 September. It will then tour to the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Monday 22 - Saturday 27 September and Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Monday 29 September - Saturday 4 October, before embarking on a No1 UK tour in 2015.
BLOCKBUSTER The Musical follows the global success of Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You and features classic hits by Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, Tina Turner and Mud, including... BALLROOM BLITZ, BLOCKBUSTER, TIGER FEET, CAN THE CAN, DEVIL GATE DRIVE, SOME GIRLS, LAY BACK IN THE ARMS OF SOMEONE, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE, TEENAGE RAMPAGE, KISS YOU ALL OVER, OH CAROL, BETTER BE GOOD TO ME, LITTLE WILLY, THE CAT CREPT IN, LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS, MICKEY and many, many more. The book is by David Soames who co-wrote the musical Time for Cliff Richard, that ran for two years in the West End at the Dominion Theatre.
BLOCKBUSTER The Musical begins in 2014 with Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in London’s Soho. Mickey has borrowed money to buy a car. Unfortunately he crashes it without insuring it and is now being pursued by Charlie Daz, a “loan shark” to whom he owes money. Taking refuge in Crazy Max’s Retro Record shop, Mickey meets Max (Paul Nicholas), a mystical figure, who discovers Mickey has problems and tells him he can turn his life around if he performs two selfless deeds within seven days. With Charlie Daz in hot pursuit, Mickey has nothing to lose and agrees. Max tells Mickey to hide in the store’s record booth and as Charlie Daz enters the shop, Max starts the booth spinning and transports Mickey back in time to London and 1975... Mickey is totally disorientated as he tumbles back in time and out of the storeroom cupboard of the main Hall of Ealing College. Befriended by Carol (Suzanne Shaw), the lead singer of the college band, he also meets her less than reliable boyfriend Steve and Teresa, an Anti-Vietnam war activist. Mickey is instantly smitten and he and Teresa find themselves falling in love. Steve has gambling debts and is about to be arrested for selling stolen cameras. Things go from bad to worse when Teresa, while leading a demo outside the American Embassy, is kicked by a police horse and rushed to hospital in a coma. Can Mickey help Teresa pull through and out of her coma? And can he help Carol and stop the police arresting Steve,the boy she loves? Mickey remembers Max’s words,‘Two Good Deeds Mickey’. Can Mickey fulfil his destiny and turn his life around or has time run out and will Max transport him back to 2014? All will be revealed inBLOCKBUSTER The Musical...
Suzanne Shaw’s big break came in 2001 with Hear’say. Their single debut was the fastest selling non-charitable record in UK chart history, selling over 1.3 million copies. Since the band split in 2003, Suzanne moved into musical theatre, plays and TV. As ‘Roxie Hart’ in the West End cast of Chicago, she was nominated for Best Takeover in a Role in the annual Whatsonstage Awards. She was also leading lady ‘Bobby’ in the remake of Summer Holiday, ‘‘Judy’ in White Christmas; she appeared across the UK in The Vagina Monologues; and was ‘Irene’ in a UK tour of Alan Aykbourn’s Funny Peculiar. Her TV career includes playing series regular Eve Jensen in Emmerdale and she won ITV’s hit show Dancing on Ice in 2008, returning to the ice this year in the All Stars Dancing on Ice final series.
Paul Nicholas became a household favourite with his role as Vince in the BAFTA award-winning BBC TV series Just Good Friends and for LWT’s major drama Bust, for which he was nominated Best Actor. His theatrical success began in 1969 in the original London production of Hair. This was followed by the leading roles of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Danny in Grease and an appearance in Richard O’Brien’s T-Zee for the Prospect Theatre Company. Paul joined the Young Vic company under Frank Dunlop where he played Claudio in Much Ado about Nothing and in John Antrobus’s comedy Crete and Sergeant Pepper. Paul created the role of Rum Tum Tugger in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, followed by the title role in Tim Rice’s musicalBlondel and Charlie Girl at the Victoria Palace with Cyd Charrise. He appeared as the Pirate King in the highly successful production of The Pirates of Penzance and starred in the first ever national tour of Barnum for which he trained in all circus skills including tightrope walking and juggling. As well as being a very successful actor, Paul Nicholas has produced many shows including: Jesus Christ Superstar (concert version), The Pirates Of Penzance (UK tour), Grease (West End and Broadway - Tony Award nomination for Best Revival 2008), The Rocky Horror Show (directed by Paul Nicholas), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (West End), Singin’ in the Rain(UK tour), Evita (UK tour), Chess (UK tour), Happy Days (UK tour), Saturday Night Fever (London Palladium and Minskoff Theatre, New York), Producer, co-adapter The Tale of Two Cities (UK tour), Jekyll & Hyde (UK tour), Keeler (directed by Paul Nicholas), Jest End (Players Theatre and Jermyn Street Theatre) KeelerProducer/Director (UK tour), The Tale Of Two Cities musical (Charing Cross Theatre). His most recent productions were WAG! The Musical and Keeler at Charing Cross Theatre in the West End and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK tour).
