Cast Announced for HAIRSPRAY at Edinburgh Playhouse

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.

Well known for his long-running role on ITV1's Benidorm as Kenneth, Tony Maudsley is an acclaimed actor of both stage and screen. Tony has previously appeared on stage in A Day in Dull Armour (Royal Court Theatre), Dogs Barking (Bush Theatre) and South Pacific (UK Tour). In addition to his hugely popular role in Benidorm, Tony has recently appeared on screen in The Job Lot, New Tricks, Mo and Doc Martin. On top of Tony's extensive television credits, his film appearances have included roles in Jack Thorne's The Scouting Book for Boys, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Vanity Fair and Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things.

Claire Sweeney first came to prominence with her long-running role as Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside. Since leaving the soap in 2003, Claire has gone on to find great acclaim on stage with roles in Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls, Tell Me On A Sunday as well as the world tour of Fosse. Claire has also found great popularity as a television presenter and panellist in shows such as 60 Minute Makeover, Loose Women and more recently as a presenter on Magic FM where she hosts a musical theatre-themed show. In addition to her role on Brookside, Claire's further television credits include Candy Cabs, Clocking Off and Mersey Beat.

Peter Duncan is an Olivier Award nominated actor who first came to attention as a presenter on the iconic television show Blue Peter. Peter began his career on stage with Laurence Olivier's National Theatre company at the Old Vic and subsequently went on to be Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Card and starred as Barnum in Barnum. In addition to his roles on stage, Peter has also created original pantomimes at Hackney Empire and Broadway Theatre as well as writing and directing Oxford Playhouse's annual Christmas production. As well as his illustrious career on stage, Peter has had roles on television in Demolition Dad, Doctors and fronted the BBC series Duncan Dares. Peter recently competed in BBC1's gymnastics competition Tumble alongside Sarah Harding and John Partridge.

Brenda Edwards was first noted for her vocal talent in 2005 when she entered The X Factor. After finishing the competition in fourth place under the tutelage of Sharon Osbourne, Brenda went on to star in long-running musicals such as Chicago (Adelphi & Cambridge Theatres) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre & UK Tour) as well as Galt MacDermot's The Human Comedy (Young Vic) and Carmen Jones (Royal Festival Hall). In addition to her work in musical theatre, Brenda has also headlined a series sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott's and Pigalle Club, supported Smokey Robinson in concert and performed in Brenda's Gospel Christmas (Barbican).

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