CHICAGO to Bring the Cell Block to Marlowe Theatre This October

A nightclub singer, a double-murderess, a smooth-talking lawyer and a cell block of sin: Chicago comes to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next month.

The multi-award-winning musical is based on real events in the roaring 1920s when nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cell block rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, fights to keep from death row with the help of smooth-talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. Chicago stars Jessie Wallace as Mama Morton, "matron" of the jail, and John Partridge as Billy.

Jessie is best known for playing Kat Slater in EastEnders, a role for which she has won numerous awards. Her other TV credits include Wild At Heart and Pat Phoenix in The Road To Coronation Street, for which she was nominated for a Bafta Award. Her theatre credits include Rent Remixed in the West End, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, and the national tour of Stepping Out.

John is also an ex-EastEnder; he played Christian Clarke. His many musical theatre credits include Cats in the West End, on tour and the official film of the show, Miss Saigon on the first UK national tour, and most recently A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. John was also a judge on BBC1's Over the Rainbow, Andrew Lloyd Webber's search to find a Dorothy for the musical The Wizard Of Oz.

Joining them are Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A D Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Hayley has just finished playing Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street. She also played Del Dingle in Emmerdale. Her numerous theatre credits include Spamalot and The Rocky Horror Show. Hayley also won the 5th series of ITV1's Dancing On Ice. Sophie Carmen-Jones' many West End credits including Jersey Boys, Wicked and We Will Rock You. She will also appear in the forthcoming Disney film Beauty And The Beast. Neil Ditt has appeared in many West End productions, including Mary Poppins and Betty Blue Eyes. His other theatre credits include creating the role of George Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Leicester Curve, and High Society and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. AD Richardson's many theatre credits include the international tour of The Pirates of Penzance, the UK tour of HMS Pinafore, the RSC's Cyrano De Bergerac and Scrooge The Musical at the New Theatre Oxford.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics) and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Chicago's sexy, sassy score includes All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle and When You're Good To Mama. It has six Tony, two Olivier, one Grammy, two Bafta and six Academy Awards.

Chicago opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production, as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for Best Musical, and immediately became a sell-out hit running for 15 years. Chicago is currently playing in New York, where it holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and also the second longest running musical in Broadway history.

Chicago is at The Marlowe Theatre from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 October, with performances at 7.30pm and 2.30pm (Thursday and Saturday). Limited tickets, priced from £23 to £44.50 (concessions available; booking fee applies), are from the Box Office on 01227 787787, or marlowetheatre.com.