Gemma Sutton to Star Opposite Caroline O'Connor in West End Revival of THE RINK

Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail has reported that actress Gemma Sutton has joined the cast of the upcoming West End revival of the musical, The Rink.

According to Baz, Sutton will play the role of Angel, an estranged daughter who returns home to mend her relationship with her mother and help save their roller-skating rink.

Renowned Broadway, West End and film actress Caroline O'Connor will star as Anna in the first London revival in 20 years of Kander and Ebb's THE RINK, having understudied the role of Angel in the 1988 London production of the show.

The new production of THE RINK will play at Southwark Playhouse for a limited season from 25 May to 23 June 2018, with a national press night on Tuesday 29 May. The role of Angel, along with further casting is to be announced.

Anna, an Italian housewife who runs a roller-skating rink on the Eastern seaboard, is about to sell it to developers until her estranged daughter, Angel, returns after a long absence, hoping to save the rink and patch things up with her mother.

THE RINK originally premiered on Broadway on 9 February 1984, starring Chita Rivera as Anna and Liza Minelli as Angel. Rivera won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her performance. The show premiered in London at the Cambridge Theatre on 17 February 1988, starring Josephine Blake and Diane Langton as Anna and Angel respectively.

THE RINK has a book by Tony Award-winning Terrence McNally (Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class). This new production is directed by Adam Lenson and choreographed by Fabian Aloise, with musical direction by Joe Bunker and casting by Jacob Sparrow.

THE RINK is produced by Jack Maple and Brian Zeilinger. Tickets: £25 and £20 concessions (from £14 during previews). Box Office: 020 7407 0234. Website: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk. Facebook: www.facebook.com/SouthwarkPlayhouse. Twitter: @TheRinkMusical