Samuel J Weir, Ceris Hine and Bridget Costello Join Mandy Holliday in THE TINDERBOX

A cast of familiar musical theatre performers is announced today to join LES MISERABLES star Mandy Holliday, returning to the West End in a new version of Hans Christian Andersen's famous folk tale, THE TINDERBOX.

The producers have scheduled a new press performance on Sunday December 13 at 4.00pm. THE TINDERBOX promises to delight young audiences and their families at Charing Cross Theatre with special daytime performances between Saturday December 12 and Sunday January 3.

Samuel J Weir (Brian The Brave) was US Marine Fector in Dogfight, The Bellboy in Grand Hotel and Frankie Epps in Parade (all at Southwark Playhouse for producer Danielle Tarento and director Thom Southerland). He joined the cast of Titanic for its transfer from London to the Princess of Wales, Toronto and was the Groom/Bargeman in the UK premiere of Jerry Herman's The Grand Tour at the Finborough.

Ceris Hine (The Gold Dog) returns to Charing Cross Theatre, where she was nominated Best Female Performance in the Off West End Awards for USHERS: The Front of House Musical. She was Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary Tour.

Bridget Costello (The Princess) New Zealand-born Costello graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and went on to play the title role in Princess Ida at the Finborough Theatre.

Mandy Holliday (The Old Witch, Harry the Hound & The Wicked Queen) starred as Madame Thenardier in the West End production of Les Miserables and on tour, Barbara in Mum's the Word (UK No 1 tour), Jan in Girl's Night In (tour), Countess Boronski in Simon Brett's Little Red Riding Hood, Lucy in The London Merchant (Southwark Playhouse) and Helene Hanff in 84 Charing Cross Road (site specific production). Mandy loves performing for younger audiences and her work in Children's theatre productions has taken her all over the UK. She is widely known as Mrs Bubbles and has wrote and directed a variety of children's classics which toured nationwide for several years including included THE TINDERBOX, Return to Wonderland, The Railway Children, The Water Babies and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

THE TINDERBOX, based on a Scandinavian folk tale Andersen learned in his childhood, has been adapted by Mandy Holliday.

In THE TINDERBOX, Brian the Brave, a penniless solider is returning from the war. He acquires a magic tinderbox and embarks on a quest to find his true love. This enchanting, fun-filled musical features an array of wonderful, colourful characters, cleverly combining classical music and story-telling with comedy, lots of audience interaction plus a few surprises along the way! It's an unmissable treat for the whole family!

On the creative team are director Abigail Pickard Price, choreographer Lily Howkins, and production designer Christopher Hone, with producers Jason Belne and Amanda Armstrong.

IF YOU GO:

THE TINDERBOX
(www.the-tinderbox.com)

Saturday 12 December 2015 - Sunday 3 January 2016

Charing Cross Theatre, The ArchesVilliers Street, London WC2N 6NL

www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Box office: 08444 930 650

Performances:

Saturday 12th December - 11am
Sunday 13th December - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm
Tuesday 15th December - 11am
Wednesday 16th December - 11am
Thursday 17th December - 11am
Friday 18th December - 11am
Saturday 19th December - 11am
Sunday 20th December - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm
Monday 21st December - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm
Tuesday 22nd December 11am & 2pm
Wednesday 23rd December - 11am
Thursday 24th December - 11am
Sunday 27th December - 11am
Monday 28th December - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm
Tuesday 29th December - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm
Wednesday 30th December - 11am
Thursday 31st December - 11am
Saturday 2nd January - 11am
Sunday 3rd January - 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm

Press performance: Sunday 13 Dec at 4.00pm

All tickets are £19.50. There is a family tickets for 4 at £60 (1 adult and three kids or 2 adults and 2 kids) valid for all performances.

There is a schools groups ticket (10+) for £12.50 with teacher free for the first week of performances up to 20 December. There is a groups rate (10+) of £15 valid for all perfor- mances. No booking fee for personal callers at the theatre box office, booking online or by telephone.

Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines); Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, Circle and District lines)