Gary Wilmot and Clare Buckfield to Lead A BOWL OF CHERRIES, Beginning March 6

By: Feb. 15, 2012
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Gary Wilmot and Clare Buckfield are to star in the world premiere of A Bowl of Cherries, a new Off West End musical that looks at life through a cycle of plays and songs. 

It previews at Charing Cross Theatre from Tuesday March 6 and plays a limited season to Saturday March 31.

Press night is Thursday March 8 at 7.30pm

Two theatre ghosts from the last war, Albert Farthing (Gary Wilmot) and Penny Riddle (Clare Buckfield), are trapped between this world and the next. Albert is tired of being in limbo and wants to move on but is held back by Penny who is in denial, believing she is still alive and waiting for her big theatrical moment...

The Music is by Ivor Novello Award-winning David Martin (worldwide record sales 26.5 million). As part of the world renowned song-writing team Arnold, Martin and Morrow, David achieved many hit records over 15 years with several major artists. His many hit songs included Let’s Be Friends (Elvis Presley), The Right One Is Left (Cilla Black), So Long (Cliff Richard) as well as the legendary Can’t Smile Without You. This song was recorded by Barry Manilow and became No 1 in America and subsequently recorded by The Carpenters, Englebert Humperdinck and Boyzone (featuring in the film Four Weddings & A Funeral). In 1978 David formed a record company, Hippodrome Records, with nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow and during this time he wrote for and produced the incomparable Motown singer Edwin Starr and Dusty Springfield. David toured the globe as a singer with the James Last Orchestra. 

The Book is by playwright Carolyn Pertwee. A Bowl of Cherries, is devised and directed by Olivier Award-nominated Andrew C Wadsworth.

Gary Willmot’s many West End and touring starring roles include Me And My Girl (Adelphi Theatre); Carmen Jones (Old Vic) Barry Manilow’s Copacabana at the Prince of Wales; Fagin in Oliver! and  Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang at the London Palladium.

Clare Buckfield starred as Audrey in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s UK tour of Little Shop of Horrors. On TV she appeared in five series of 2.4 Children as Jenny Porter. She was also in the pilot of 2 Pints of Lager and A Packet of Crisps. She was a runner up in ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and toured the UK with the live arena version of the show.


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