Claire Sweeney News

Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse are delighted to announce Charlotte Wakefield in the role of Truly Scrumptious and Jos Vantyler in the role of the Childcatcher in the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, when the production arrives in Edinburgh this October. The tour continues until 4 February 2017.

TICKETS are still available for the much-loved musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which flies into Canterbury this summer. The show, at The Marlowe Theatre from Wednesday 24 August, stars Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Caractacus Potts; Claire Sweeney (Brookside, Strictly Come Dancing, Loose Women, Chicago, Guys And Dolls, Educating Rita, and Hairspray) as Baroness Bomburst; Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst; Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Miserables, War Of The Worlds) as TrulyScrumptious; Matt Gillett (Jersey Boys, Top Hat) as the Childcatcher; and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.

Claire Sweeney will play the role of Baroness Bomburst in Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, from Wednesday 3 August 2016.  The production is touring across the UK and Ireland until February 2017. Michelle Collins, who currently plays Baroness Bomburst, leaves the production on 30 July 2016.

From August 3, Claire Sweeney will play the role of Baroness Bomburst in Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. The production is touring across the UK and Ireland until February 2017. Michelle Collins, who currently plays Baroness Bomburst, leaves the production on July 30.

Today, producer Mark Goucher has confirmed that following the phenomenal success of the current UK tour, the new production of Hairspray will return at the end of summer 2017 to once again tour the UK. This second tour of the smash hit musical will visit venues across the country until the spring of 2018. Casting, dates and locations for the 2017/18 tour will be announced in due course.

Club 11 London and The Hippodrome Casino are excited to bring you an intimate Night With Claire Sweeney at 8pm, 2nd June 2016.

The HAIRSPRAY UK tour is currently playing at Cambridge Corn Exchange, through February 20, and will soon move on to Edinburgh Playhouse. Below, watch as the cast performed a rousing 'I Know Where I've Been.'

International smash-hit musical Hairspray comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 8 - Saturday 13 February starring actor, presenter and former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, Benidorm's Tony Maudsley, TV and musicals star Claire Sweeney and X Factor finalist and West End star Brenda Edwards.

According to the West End Frame, current HAIRSPRAY UK tour producer Mark Goucher, has revealed that he wants the musical to transfer to the West End next year.

The dust has only recently settled on the last production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester but now this production is on the road across the UK. Based on the packed house at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham last night, it's proven itself to be a show that people will return to. It's just upsetting that this time around the show did not live up to my expectations.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad when Hairspray returns to Edinburgh next year. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Revived again, the touring favourite Hairspray is again packing out theatres across the country.  This new production delivers some impressive performances and a fun evening, if not quite living up to dancing in the aisles quality of the West End original.

The international smash hit musical comedy Hairspray the Musical returns in a brand new production, touring the UK from September 2015. Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin. Tracy's audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for integration. But can she win equality - and Link's heart - without denting her 'do? Starring Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Chicago) as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Tumble), and Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) as Duane.

BWW:UK recently sat down for a chat with the stars of the new UK tour of Hairspray at the show's Birmingham press launch at the New Alexandra Theatre, where it is playing over the Christmas period. Here we speak to Claire Sweeney (Velma Von Tussle), Tony Maudsley (Edna), Peter Duncan (Wilbur) and Brenda Edwards (Motormouth Maybelle).

Hairspray will star Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle.

The Olivier Awards with MasterCard - the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar - are set take place on Sunday 12 April at the Royal Opera House and broadcast from 22:15 that evening on ITV in a full highlights package. Don't forget to tune in to BroadwayWorld on Sunday afternoon for live coverage of the ceremony!

The Olivier Awards with MasterCard - the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar - has revealed further details of the 2015 ceremony to be held on Sunday 12 April at the Royal Opera House and broadcast from 22:15 that evening on ITV in a full highlights package.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week UK tour of Hairspray which will open at Curve theatre in Leicester this autumn. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Old-school ska, West End splendour, laugh-out-loud comedy, timeless storytelling - these are just a few of the highlights audiences can look forward to this month at the Belgrade, with a series of one-night events guaranteed to put a spring in your step this March.

The West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, opened last night, Tuesday 24 February 2014 at the Aldwych Theatre, London. Directed by Marc Bruni, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical has book by Douglas McGrath with words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.