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VIDEO: First Listen to a Song From New Musical THE REGULARS at Hope Mill Theatre's TURN ON FEST

‘The Regulars’ will be presented as a concert at 2pm and 7pm on Saturday 29 January.

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The first song and video has been released from new musical The Regulars, which is set to be the headline show for the Hope Mill Theatre's third annual LGBTQIA+ Arts Festival Turn On Fest.

The piece, which explores the nature of community, identity and self-love, has music, lyrics and book by Will Shishmanian (he/him), who also stars in the piece as lead Mark Howard. It has been developed with and directed by Miss Hazel Jade (she/her).

Broadway star Laura Benanti (she/her), who over her career has received 5 Tony Award nominations, winning in 2008 as Louise in 'Gypsy', sings the number 'Edir's Reckoning', which follows a mother as she comes to accept her son and accept her misgivings.

'The Regulars' will be presented as a concert at 2pm and 7pm on Saturday 29 January before moving to a workshop production at Hope Mill Theatre in 2023.

In the concert show alongside Shishmanian will be:


Aiesha Pease (she/her, Dani) was in 'Hadestown' at The National Theatre and 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert', UK tour.

Natalie Paris (she/her, Betsy) has just finished a three-year run as the original cast Jane Seymour in 'Six' in the West End, earning an Olivier Award nomination.

Idriss Kargbo (he/him, Brandon) was Boq in 'Wicked', West End and Donkey in 'Shrek', UK tour.

Matthew Facchino (he/him, Derrick) was Anthony in 'Sweeney Todd' at English Theatre, Frankfurt, and featured in Sasha Regan's 'All-Male Pirates of Penzance' in the West End.

Teddy Hinde (they/them, Jax) is a non-binary performer, currently training at Trinity Laban
Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Mark Lockhart (he/him, Hunter) is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music's Musical Theatre Masters.

Amy Fleur (she/her, ensemble) was a featured soloist for Hope Mill Theatre's recent online production of 'Godspell'.

James Markham (he/him, ensemble) was Feste in 'Twelfth Night' and Rafe in 'Fourplay' at Liverpool's Royal Court.

Jordan Walker (he/they, ensemble) is a 2021 Graduate from Guildford School of Acting.

Director of 'The Regulars', Miss Hazel Jade, said: "I am unbelievably thrilled to showcase Shish's beautiful songs at Turn On Fest and continue developing 'The Regulars' with Hope Mill! It is a dream to share the world of Amberland with Manchester audiences."





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