Following a critically acclaimed run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Cameron Mackintosh has announced that Rachel Kavanaugh’s production will transfer to London’s Noel Coward Theatre from the 29th October.
The original cast for this production will also transfer to the West End, including Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps, Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick – alongside three times Olivier-nominated actor Ian Bartholomew as ‘Chitterlow’ and three times Olivier-nominated actress Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham.
This new production of the the musical adaptation of H-G.Wells’s semi-autobiographical novel ‘Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul’ is a new adaptation, reuniting Julian Fellowes, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the musical team that co-creator Cameron Mackintosh first put together to create the hit stage adaptation of Mary Poppins with Disney.
Cameron Mackintosh said: “I am absolutely thrilled that our new version of the iconic British musical Half a Sixpence has gone off with such a flash bang wallop and been so rapturously received by both audiences and critics alike, breaking box offices records in Chichester.”
Arthur Kipps, an orphan and over-worked draper’s assistant at the turn of the last century, unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society. His childhood companion, Ann Pornick, watches with dismay as Arthur is made over in a new image by the beautiful and classy Helen Walsingham. Both young women undoubtedly love Arthur – but which of them should he listen to? With the help of his friends, Arthur learns that if you want to have the chance of living the right life, you need to make the right choices.
Half a Sixpence features songs such as ‘Flash Bang Wallop’, ‘Money To Burn’ and ‘Half A Sixpence’. The original 1963 musical was written by Beverley Cross and David Heneker.
This new production will feature choreography by Andrew Wright, designed by Paul Brown, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter and video design by Luke Halls.
This latest Chichester Festival Theatre production to transfer to London follows on from productions including Gypsy, Singing in the Rain and Sweeney Todd in recent years.
Half a Sixpence will run at the Noel Coward Theatre from the 29th October 2016 and is currently booking until the 11th February 2017. To book tickets visit: Discount Theatre.com, Theatre Tickets Direct.co.uk, Theatre People.com and UK Tickets.co.uk.