'MISS NIGHTINGALE - the musical' to Tour Again

After a successful three month tour of the UK and West End last year, Miss Nightingale - the musical by Matthew Bugg is to tour again this spring. Mr Bugg Presents and the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich in association with Cast, Doncaster will take a reworked production of the critically acclaimed new 1940's era musical on a six week UK tour from 27 March to 3 May.

Miss Nightingale - the musical is the official touring production celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the National Fairground Archive (NFA). The musical is an hilarious and heart warming vintage love story celebrating the world of sex, scandal and showbiz in the cabaret clubs of war-torn London.

Feisty northern singer Maggie and her refugee songwriter, George, struggle to find their big break. She longs for the bright lights. He hides his sexuality in the shadows.

Everything changes when they are picked up by wealthy man-about-town Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe. He needs a new act for his nightclub and transforms Maggie into the satirical music hall star 'Miss Nightingale'. Her outrageous costumes, saucy songs and scandalous love life make her the toast of London. But out of the spotlight the secret romance between the two men promises to prove more devastating than The Blitz at a time when being gay was not just illegal but seen as dangerously unpatriotic.

Miss Nightingale - the musical is performed by a cast of actor-musicians including Tomm Coles (Sir Frank), Adam Lagstaff (Tom Fuller), Tobias Oliver (Stage Manager), Matthew Bugg (Harry), and new leading lady, Jill Cardo as 'Miss Nightingale'. It features Matthew Bugg's critically acclaimed original songs, from hilarious tongue-in-cheek numbers to tender ballads, which wonderfully capture the glorious spirit of the 1940s.

Miss Nightingale - the musical is written by award-winning and openly gay theatre composer Matthew Bugg. His work has been heard in theatres across the UK and in the West End. His recent touring and West End productions includes: Cirque Berserk, Black Coffee, Volcano, Barefoot in the Park, Go Back for Murder, Quartet, Some Like it Hotter, The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, Murder of the Nile, Polygraph, The Father, League of Youth, Three Men in a Boat, and The Handyman.

The role of 'Maggie/Miss Nightingale' will be played by Jill Cardo. Her work includes: Carnaby Street The Musical (National Tour); The Hired Man (Mercury, Colchester & Leicester Curve); Venus/Mars (Old Red Lion Theatre); A Government Inspector (Northern Broadsides); Twelfth Night (Minack, Cornwall); Sweet Charity (Belfast MAC); Alice In Wonderland (New Vic, Stoke); Carmen and Marlene (Stephen Joseph Theatre); Xeno's Tortoise (Theatre Jemilda); Cabaret Chekhov (Edinburgh Fringe); A Chorus of Disapproval (New Wolsey, Ipswich & Mercury, Colchester). Jill is a member of the BBC Radio Rep. She voices Wanda and Michelle in Compost Corner for CITV.

The show is directed by Peter Rowe. He is Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre. His productions include: The Threepenny Opera, Our House, Mods And Rox, Sweeney Todd, Double Indemnity, A Family Affair, A Mad World My Masters, The Good Companions, Neville's Island, Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Vincent in Brixton, Blues in the Night, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus of Disapproval, Noises Off, Up on the Roof, and Guys and Dolls. He directed Boyband, Return to the Forbidden Planet and Leader of the Pack for the West End and national tours.

Miss Nightingale - the musical is the official touring production celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the National Fairground Archive (NFA) at the University of Sheffield. The NFA is a unique collection of material covering the culture and history of travelling fairs and popular entertainment from the 1800s to the present day. Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of National Fairground Archive is an expert in most forms of entertainment including fairgrounds, circus, variety and music hall. She has acted as historical consultant for seven major television productions since 2000, including the Mitchell & Kenyon series on BBC2 and has co-produced five major radio programmes with BBC Radio 4. She has also regularly appeared on Who Do You Think You Are and the Reel History of Britain.

Miss Nightingale - the musical tours the UK from 27 March to 3 May 2014. It will be performed: The New Wolsey Theatre Thu 27 Mar - Sat 5 Apr, Ipswich Cast, Doncaster (Thu 10 Apr); MAC, Birmingham (Fri 11 & Sat 12 Apr); Clwyd Theatr, Cymru (Mon 14 - Sat 19 Apr); City Varieties, Leeds (Thu 24 - Sun 27 Apr); Library Theatre, Sheffield (Mon 28 Apr - Fri 2 May); Victoria Theatre, Halifax (Sat 3 May ).

Discover more about the show visit www.missnightingale.co.uk

Tour Schedule:

Thu 27 Mar - Sat 5 Apr, The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

01473 295 900 / www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Thu 10 Apr, Cast, Doncaster

01302 303 959 / www.castindoncaster.com

Fri 11 & Sat 12 Apr, MAC, Birmingham

0121 446 3232 / www.macarts.co.uk

Mon 14 - Sat 19 Apr, Clwyd Theatr, Cymru

0845 330 3565 / www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk

Thu 24 - Sun 27 Apr, City Varieties, Leeds

0113 243 0808 / www.cityvarieties.co.uk

Mon 28 Apr - Fri 2 May, Library Theatre, Sheffield

0114 249 6000 / www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Sat 3 May, Victoria Theatre, Halifax

01422 351 158 / www.victoriatheatre.co.uk

Book and lyrics and music by: Matthew Bugg

Director: Peter Rowe

Designer: Carla Goodman

Lighting Designer: David Phillips

Miss Nightingale - the musical is a Mr Bugg Presents and New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich co-production in association with National Fairground Archive at the University of Sheffield and Cast, Doncaster.