Hayes Theatre Co. & New Musicals Australia Announce Cast for THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK

New Musicals Australia in association with Hayes Theatre Co are thrilled to be able to announce the cast for THE DETECTIVE'S HANDBOOK which will play Hayes Theatre Co from 21 April until 7 May 2016.

"The Detective's Handbook is an especially exciting show for us to be presenting at Hayes Theatre Co," said Hayes Theatre Co Chair Neil Gooding. "Firstly, it is a new, totally original Australian musical, which is fairly rare in itself. Secondly, it is the first fully staged production of a show that has been guided through our New Musicals Australia program. The Detectives Handbook is smart, funny and has a distinctive voice, with music by Olga Solar and book and lyrics by Ian Ferrington."

Director Jonathan Biggins has assembled a spectacular cast for the production, that pays homage to the golden age of detective novels, with a witty and intriguing script, in a Maltese Falcon meets Get Smart style spoof. Joining the cast are Justin Smith (Billy Elliott The Musical, RENT-original Australian cast), Sheridan Harbridge (Songs for the Fallen, An Officer and a Gentleman), Rob Johnson (Man of La Mancha, Triassic Parq), Tony Cogin (Moonshadow, Doctor Zhivago), Lara Mulcahy (LES MISERABLES, Mamma Mia) and Christopher Horsey (The Tap Pack, Hot Shoe Shuffle).

The creative team also includes Michael Tyack as Musical Director, James Browne as Set and Costume Designer and Sian James-Holland as Lighting Designer.

"It's a rare honour to be working on a new Australian musical, said Director Jonathan Biggins. "The Hayes is both the ideal laboratory and nursery - musicals are unusual hybrids that need a lot of attention to help them grow! This is a witty, quirky show with a distinctive and unexpected voice and we've got a great cast to showcase its potential."

The musical is set in Chicago, 1950 and follows Frank Thompson, police detective, as he is called into the station on Sunday morning to investigate the murder of two policemen in a disreputable neighbourhood. The Police Chief assigns him a new partner, Jimmy Hartman, a recently promoted Detective The ensuing investigation leads them into a world of seedy bars and femme fatales, in a hilarious clash of the old guard and the new recruit, determined to do it 'by the book'.

New Musicals Australia is an initiative of Independent Music Theatre Australia in partner with Hayes Theatre Co.

Hayes Theatre Co is a dedicated music theatre and cabaret venue in Potts Point. Named for Australian musical theatre legend, Nancye Hayes OAM, Hayes Theatre Co honours and builds on the vast history of Australian Musical Theatre and its practitioners. This not-for-profit venue is managed by Independent Music Theatre, a collaborative partnership focusing on providing a permanent home for small-scale musical theatre and cabaret. By providing venue space to newly mounted productions, Hayes Theatre Co, is a presenting partner together with independent producers and artists. ?

Hayes Theatre Co is made possible through the City of Sydney's Accommodation Grant Program.