Gemma Arterton and More Star in MADE IN DAGENHAM, Opening Tonight in the West End

Made in Dagenham, the heartwarming new musical, will open at the Adelphi Theatre tonight 5 November. This stage adaptation of the hit British film has a book by Richard Bean, music by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas. The production is currently in previews, and BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

Isla Blair and David Cardy will play Connie and Monty respectively. They join international film actress Gemma Arterton in the lead role of Rita O'Grady, with Adrian der Gregorian as her husband Eddie. Steve Furst is playing US Ford Executive Mr Tooley, Mark Hadfield is Harold Wilson, Sophie-Louise Dann is Barbara Castle, Sophie Stanton is Beryl, Heather Craney is Clare, Sophie Isaacs is Sandra, Julius D'Silva is Ford Dagenham boss Mr Hopkins and Naomi Frederick plays his wife Lisa.

Also in the Made in Dagenham cast are Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Thomas Aldridge, Kate Coysten, Christopher Howell, Scott Garnham, Ian Jervis, Paul Kemble, Emma Lindars, Jo Napthine, Tracey Penn, Gemma Salter, Gareth Snook,Rachel Spurrell, Emily Squibb, Karli Vale and Rene Zagger.

Essex 1968. Like millions of other workingwomen, each morning Rita O'Grady is just trying to get her husband out of bed, get the kids off to school and get to work at the factory on time. But life is about to change forever when it's announced that the girls in the stitching room of Ford's Dagenham car plant will have their pay grade dropped to 'unskilled'. Quickly drawing on a strength she never knew she had, Rita leads her friends in a battle against the might of Ford and the corruption of the Union supposed to protect them. As the girls' inspiring journey gets bigger than anyone could have imagined, the pressure is too much for some, but can Rita keep up the fight and the happy home she's worked so hard for? Funny, touching and timeless, Made in Dagenham shows how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they stand together.

Directed by multi-award winning Rupert Goold (Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre), Made in Dagenham has a book by Richard Bean (writer of the global hit play One Man, Two Guvnors, The Heretic at the Royal Court, England People VeryNice at the National), music by BAFTA and Grammy award winning composer David Arnold (James Bondseries, Independence Day, Hot Fuzz, Sherlock and Little Britain) and lyrics from Olivier Award winner Richard Thomas(Jerry Spring The Opera, The Royal Opera's Anna Nicole and Shoes at Sadler's Wells). Olivier Award-winner Bunny Christie (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time)will design with choreography by Aletta Collins (Awakenings by Rambert Dance Company, His Dark Materials at the National Theatre).

Photo Credit: Roy Tan