Imelda Staunton to Lead Chicester Festival's GYPSY this Autumn

Gypsy opens at Chichester this autumn with Imelda Staunton leading a stellar cast as the indomitable Mama Rose, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest female musical roles.

This production reunites key members of the cast and creative team that staged Chichester's award-winning production of Sweeney Todd which went on to enjoy an acclaimed West End run.

Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy is considered by many to be the greatest of the Broadway musicals. It tells the story of ambitious showbiz mother Mama Rose who treks across America with her daughters Baby June and Louise in search of success with their homespun vaudeville act. As times change, Mama Rose is forced to accept the demise of vaudeville and the rise of burlesque, as well as her daughters' quest for autonomy.

The book is by Arthur Laurents whose credits include West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles, Rope and The Way We Were.

Music is by Jule Styne whose roster of classic songs include Don't Rain on My Parade, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and Three Coins in A Fountain.

Lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim whose numerous credits include Sweeney Todd, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Company, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, Into The Woods, West Side Story and Assassins.

Imelda Staunton plays Mama Rose. Theatre credits include Good People (Hampstead Theatre and West End), also directed by Jonathan Kent, the West End production of Entertaining Mr Sloane, Life x 3 (National Theatre and The Old Vic) and Guys and Dolls (National Theatre). Film credits include 2014's Pride, the Harry Potter series and her award-winning performance in Vera Drake. Television credits include Psychoville and Cranford.

Lara Pulver plays Louise. She previously appeared at Chichester in Uncle Vanya. Other theatre credits include Parade (Donmar Warehouse) for which she received an Olivier Award nomination, Honk! (National Theatre) and Into The Woods (Royal Opera House). Television credits include Fleming, Sherlock, Robin Hood, True Blood and Spooks.

Kevin Whately plays Herbie. This role marks his Chichester debut, however he is familiar to many through popular screen roles in Lewis and Inspector Morse, as well as Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Theatre credits include the West End production of Twelve Angry Men.

Gemma Sutton plays June. Credits include Carousel, Blues in the Night and the forthcoming TV drama, Cilla.

The cast also features Dan Burton as Tulsa, Jimmy Chisholm as Uncle Jocko, Jack Chissick as Mr Goldstone, Anita Louise Combe as Tessie Tura, Harry Dickman as Pop, Roger Dipper as L.A, Louise Gold as Mazeppa, Clare Halse as Majorie May, Tom Hodgkins as Weber, Kieran Jae as Yonkers, Julie Legrand as Electra, Jane McMurtrie as Jaynee, Danielle Morris as Geraldine, Jack North as Little Rock, Damien Poole as Kansas, Lauren Varnham as Delores and Natalie Woods as Agnes.

Also included in the cast are Emily Carey (credits include Shrek The Musical) and Georgia Pemberton (credits include Matilda The Musical) who play Baby June. Holly Hazelton and Ruby Bridle (both of whom have credits for Matilda The Musical) play Baby Louise.

The director is Jonathan Kent whose Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd and Private Lives (which both transferred to the West End). Other credits include the National Theatre production of Oedipus, and Don Giovanni and The Fairy Queen at Glyndebourne. He was Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre for 12 years where his work included When We Dead Awaken, All For Love, Medea, The School for Wives and Gangster No. 1.

Choreography is by Stephen Mear, Chichester's Associate Choreographer. Chichester credits include Festival 2014's Amadeus, The Pajama Game (also West End) and Kiss Me, Kate (also The Old Vic). Other credits include West End productions of Shoes, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, Crazy for You and Anything Goes (National Theatre and West End).

Design is by Anthony Ward whose Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd and Private Lives (both of which transferred to the West End), ENRON (also Royal Court Theatre, West End, Broadway and tour) and Macbeth (West End and Broadway). Other theatre credits include Posh (Royal Court Theatre and West End), and West End productions of Oliver! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The musical director and orchestrator is Nicholas Skilbeck whose Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd (also West End). Other credits include the 2014 Kate Bush concerts, West End productions of Sister Act, Hairspray, Billy Elliott - The Musical, Mamma Mia! and Cats.

Lighting design is by Mark Henderson whose Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd and Private Lives (both of which transferred to the West End) and ENRON (also Royal Court Theatre, West End, Broadway and tour), West End productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as The History Boys and The Habit of Art (National Theatre).

Sound Design is by Paul Groothuis, Chichester's Associate Sound Designer. Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd, as well as The Pajama Game, Private Lives, Kiss Me, Kate, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, all of which transferred to the West End. Other credits include His Dark Materials and Henry V (for the National Theatre).

Gypsy is sponsored by Conquest Fine Bespoke Furniture, Jackson-Stops & Staff, Oval Insurance Broking and Wiley.

Photo Credit: Roy Tan

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