First Night Takeover: Strictly Ballroom at the Piccadilly Theatre

25 Apr
2018

Posted in: Features Get Social Opening Nights

Author: Perry O'Bree

first-night-takeover-strictly-ballroom-at-the-piccadilly-theatre — Perry O'Bree with Jonny Labey, Zizi Strallen & Drew McOnie on opening night

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree at the West End premiere of STRICTLY BALLROOM, starring Jonny Labey, Zizi Strallen and Will Young at the Piccadilly Theatre (on 24 April 2018). Did you spot Baz Luhrmann at the opening night? And who'd Perry rhumba with at the after-party?

Something definitely was in the West End air as Baz Luhrmann flew into town and dance lovers got their glad rags on for the West End opening this screen-to-stage cult classic, now newly directed and choreographed by our own wunderkind Drew McOnie. (Incredibly, the show marks Olivier Award winner Drew's West End debut!).

Strictly Ballroom is the romantic story that was embraced around the world, and went on to put the Strictly into Come Dancing! Based on the multi award-winning movie, the first instalment from Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed Red Curtain Trilogy, the musical production is a kaleidoscope of colour and fun. When rogue championship ballroom dancer Scott defies all the rules of competition to follow his heart, he teams up with left-footed partner Fran to compete in the Pan Pacific Championship his own way. Their love blossoms as their routines flourish, and together they triumph in bringing down the sequin-clad regime of the Dance Federation. Featuring the film’s iconic music such as Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time.

The West End cast is led by Jonny Labey and Zizi Strallen as Scott and Fran, and also features Will Young as the Bandleader, Anna Francolini, Charlotte Gooch, Eve Polycarpou, Fernando Mira, Gabriela Garcia, Gerard Horan, Ivan de Freitas, Lauren Stroud, Liam Marcellino, Michelle Bishop and Stephen Matthews.