Have we got news for you. Paul Merton will make his West End musical debut as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray at the London Coliseum from 23 April to 30 August 2020, as full casting is announced. We can’t wait to see him strutting his stuff in the new production alongside his onstage wife, as played by Michael Ball who reprises his Olivier Award-winning role.
Hairspray plays at the London Coliseum for 18 weeks only, with press night on 29 April 2020. The creatives are led by the original award-winning team of director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.
Paul Merton is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players, and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays. He is a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and is an established face on TV shows such as the hugely popular Have I Got News For You.
Lizzie Bea will star in the iconic role of Tracy Turnblad. She recently performed in the UK Tour of Kinky Boots and has just returned from Atlanta, performing in the world premiere production of Becoming Nancy (Alliance Theatre).
Marisha Wallace, who plays Motormouth, won rave reviews when she took over from Amber Riley in the smash hit Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre) and also starred in the original West End cast of Waitress (Adelphi Theatre).
Rita Simons (EastEnders’ Roxy Mitchell) and Jonny Amies (Granchester on ITV; Sex Education on Netflix/Eleven Film) will also join the cast as Velma Von Tussle and Link Larkin respectively.
The full company includes Georgia Anderson, Kimani Arthur, Dermot Canavan, Lori Haley Fox, Mari McGinlay, Ashley Samuels, Michael Vinsen and Imogen Bailey, Pearce Barron, Jordan Benjamin, Nicholas Collier, Joel Cooper, Luke George, Christopher Gopaul, Winny Herbert, Chris Howell, Lily Laight, Hannah Grace Lawson, Madeleine Lawton, Holly Liburd, Will Luckett, Mireia Mambo, Kody Mortimer, Robyn Rose, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Kibong Tanji, Amy West and Natalie Woods.
ð Listen UP Baltimore ð
— Hairspray - West End (@HairsprayLondon) January 24, 2020
We are thrilled to introduce comedy icon #PaulMerton as Wilbur Turnblad ð¤©
Ready to twist and waltz into his West End Musical debut at London's Coliseum from April 2020 ð#HairsprayLondon pic.twitter.com/Sphct1zY4O
