James Gillan and Paul Spicer Lead World Premiere of THE 8TH FOLD at Duchess Theatre, Nov 10

James Gillan (Wicked, Taboo) and Paul Spicer (Avenue Q, The Last 5 Years) will headline the world première of the brand new British born musical The 8th Fold in a specially conceived concert staging. Poignantly timed to take place on Remembrance Sunday, The 8th Fold will be performed for one night only at the West End's Duchess Theatre on Sunday 10th November.

Olivier Award nominee James Gillan - best known for originating the role of Boq in the London production of Wicked - will return to the West End following a summer season playing the lead role of Seymour in a new production of Little Shop of Horrors at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. His previous credits include Rusty in Starlight Express and Marilyn in Taboo.

Paul Spicer - now a successful producer as well as an actor - returns to perform in the West End for the first time in over two years, since he played Princeton / Rod in the final cast of Cameron Mackintosh's Avenue Q. He reunites with producers Speckulation Entertainment, a company he co-founded and for which he previously served as Creative Director, for The 8th Fold. This new musical will be the first piece of contemporary musical theatre that he has performed since playing Jamie in The Last 5 Years at the Theatre Royal Haymarket five years ago as part of the the hugely successful Notes from New York series, which he co-created.

From the producers of Notes from New York and Idina Menzel's award-winning UK tour, The 8th Fold is a musical about loss, learning, and new beginnings. Set in the recent past, and rooted in the American War on Terror, it tells the story of four boys ravaged by grief and the steps they take towards a brave new start. Over the course of a single year, it celebrates friendship, remembrance, and hope for the future.

The principal cast - with further stars to be announced - are supported by an ensemble of the best emerging talent, including Sharif Afifi (RENT, Greenwich Theatre), Will Bradnam (RENT, Cockpit Theatre) and Nathan Lodge (Back to the Musicals, Scott Alan & Friends).

The 8th Fold has music and lyrics by Gianni Onori, and book by Ava Eldred and Gianni Onori. It is produced by Neil Eckersley & Ava Eldred for Speckulation Entertainment, with direction by Jennifer Farrell and Raymond Tait and musical direction by Angharad Sanders.

THE 8TH FOLD Sunday 10th November 2013 Sun 7.30pm Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street, London WC2B 5LA Tickets: £8.00 - £25.00 / Premium Seats: £35.00

Box Office: 0844 412 4659 (24 hrs) www.the8thfold.co.uk

James Gillan @JamesGillan8
James Gillan was born in Glasgow and trained at ArtsEd in London. Theatre credits include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Aberystwyth Arts Centre); Boq in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Peter Pan (West Yorkshire Playhouse & Royal Festival Hall); Pippin (Bridewell); James and the Giant Peach (UK Tour); Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria & UK Tour); Taboo (UK Tour); Tommy (Shaftesbury Theatre); Antony & Cleopatra and Julius Caeser (Shakespeare's Globe); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK Tour); and Godspell (Chichester Festival Theatre). TV Credits include: Doctors; 'Orrible; and Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (all BBC). James has also released a self-titled solo album.

Paul Spicer @MrPaulSpicer
Paul Spicer was born in Southend and trained at ArtsEd in London. Theatre credits include: Princeton / Rod in the final cast of Cameron Mackintosh's London production of Avenue Q (Gielgud & Wyndhams); Jamie in The Last 5 Years (Duchess & Theatre Royal Haymarket); Toby in Sweeney Todd (Gothenburg Opera); Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour); Taboo (UK Tour & The Venue); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK Tour); Sleeping Beauty (Nottingham Playhouse); Fame (UK Tour); and The Witches of Eastwick (Prince of Wales). Radio includes: Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2). In addition to his performing credits, Paul is Executive Producer for Stage Acts Entertainment and Creative Producer to up and coming British singer / songwriter Portia Emare.

ENSEMBLE
Sharif Afifi @SharifAfifi Sharif trained at the Hammond School of Dance, graduating in 2011. Theatre credits include: Prince Charming in Cinderella (Broadway Theatre, Barking); RENT (Greenwich Theatre); and understudy Amos Hart in Chicago (Royal Carribbean). Workshops include: Kane in The 8th Fold (London Bubble).

Alex Beaumont
@_AlexBeaumont Alex trained at the Arden School of Theatre, graduating in 2010. Theatre credits include: Ben Travers in Being Ivor; Tin Man in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Clinton Blake in Mile High The Musical; ensemble in One Touch of Venus; and Prince Valentine in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Workshops include: Russ in The 8th Fold (London Bubble). @Willym1891 Will trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating in 2012. Theatre credits include: Mark in RENT (Cockpit Theatre); March Hare in Alice in Wonderland (Garrick Theatre, Lichfield); and Leo in Mile High The Musical (Lost Theatre). Workshops include: Memory / Swing in The 8th Fold (London Bubble). @Dario_ccpp ?Will Bradnam

Dario Cacioppo
Dario trained at the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts. Theatre credits include: Billy / Bud / Vocalist in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Insideout Productions); featured vocalist in A Song and a Sip (Insideout Productions); Sophia (Chris) in Scene of the Titans (Edinburgh Fringe); La Bohéme (Scottish Opera); and Dancer in Intermezzo (Scottish Opera). Radio Credits include: Robert In The Victorians; Magnus in The Vikings; and William in Sustainability (all BBC Radio Scotland) Workshops include: Calum in The 8th Fold (London Bubble).

Nathan Lodge
@NathanJLodge Nathan trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating in 2013. Theatre credits include: Ben in Ushers: The Front of House Musical (Search for a Twitter Composer, Soho Theatre); featured vocalist in Back to the Musicals (Pheasantry); Peter Pan in Peter Pan (Southern Tour). Nathan is also featured on the cast recording for Ushers: The Front of House Musical, and has featured as a dancer on BBC's The One Show.

Matthew Maguire
@_mattmaguire Matthew trained at the Liverpool Theatre School. Credits whilst training include: Yasha in The Cherry Orchard; Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream; Jerry in The Good Companion and The Parsee Man in Just So. Film credits include: The Monuments Men with George Clooney. Workshop credits include: Swing / Memory in The 8th Fold (London Bubble).