THE COMMITMENTS Coming to Edinburgh in 2017

Nearly thirty years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle's best-selling novel, the world's hardest working soul band will be touring the UK coming to the Edinburgh Playhouse from 27 February to 4 March 2017.

Direct from a record-breaking residency at the Palace Theatre in London's West End, the smash hit musical will begin a seven month tour in October 2016.

Roddy Doyle says; "The Commitments were born in Dublin, moved to London, and will soon be hopping all over the shop. I wrote the novel - invented the characters - in 1986, and it thrills me to think that they will be entertaining audiences throughout the UK and Ireland thirty years later, in 2016."

The Commitments received huge critical acclaim following the September 2013 World Premiere in London. Opening to rave reviews, it was quickly hailed as a smash hit musical sensation. The Sunday Times awarded the show five stars, saying "The Commitments is the musical we've been waiting for. So good, our critic almost weeps". The Daily Telegraph and The Times both gave the show four stars and the Daily Mail said the show was "a fabulous fun night out".

The show has been adapted for the stage by Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle, from his original novel. It is directed by the award-winning Jamie Lloyd, famed for directing the critically acclaimed Macbeth, and packed with more than 20 classic soul songs performed live on stage including: Night Train, Try A Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, In The Midnight Hour, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Save Me, Mustang Sally, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Reach Out, Uptight, Knock On Wood, I Can't Turn You Loose and more!

The Commitments is the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced. The show follows the journey of two members of a frustrated synthesiser band - the opening scene has them playing, but ignored, in a shop window - who turn to Jimmy, the local music expert, for help.

Placing a classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the new line up who he names The Commitments. The humour kicks in as the band get to know each other and their instruments, and proceed through early rehearsals for their first gig. Just as they improve and begin to get a name for themselves they combust. The backing singers are all getting off with the middle aged horn playing legend, the singer has entered Eurovision, the drummer has walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.

The Commitments Tour Dates

2016 Dates

12 - 29 October Dublin Bord Gáis Theatre ON SALE NOW

31 Oct - 5 November Milton Keynes Theatre ON SALE NOW

7 - 12 November Nottingham Theatre Royal ON SALE NOW

14 - 19 November Stoke Regent Theatre ON SALE NOW

21 - 26 November Sheffield Lyceum Theatre ON SALE NOW

5 - 10 December Leeds Grand Theatre ON SALE NOW

12 - 30 December Glasgow Theatre Royal ON SALE NOW

2017 Dates

2 - 7 January Brighton Theatre Royal ON SALE NOW

9 - 14 January Oxford New Theatre ON SALE NOW

16 - 21 January Liverpool Empire ON SALE NOW

23 - 28 January Belfast Opera House ON SALE NOW

30 Jan - 4 February Southampton Mayflower ON SALE NOW

6 - 11 February Newcastle Theatre Royal ON SALE NOW

13 - 18 February York Grand Opera House ON SALE NOW

20 - 25 February Bristol Hippodrome ON SALE NOW

27 Feb - 4 March Edinburgh Playhouse ON SALE NOW - www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh or 0844 871 3014

7 - 12 March Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre ON SALE NOW

13 - 18 March Birmingham Alexandra Theatre ON SALE NOW

20 - 25 March Canterbury Marlow Theatre ON SALE NOW

27 March - 8 April Manchester Palace Theatre ON SALE NOW

10 - 15 April Cardiff Millennium ON SALE SOON

17 - 22 April Woking New Victoria Theatre ON SALE NOW