It’s the look of love: Rufus Hound & Roberta Taylor join Katherine Kingsley in Dusty on tour

Further casting details have been announced for Jonathan Harvey’s new musical about the life of Dusty Springfield which has its world premiere in June 2018 before touring – plus watch Katherine Kingsley transform into Dusty in a special behind-the-scenes video.

The new musical Dusty will have its world premiere at Theatre Royal Bath in June 2018 before dates at The Lyceum in Sheffield, Newcastle Theatre Royal, and The Lowry in Salford. Rufus Hound (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Wind in the Willows) will play Dusty’s manager Billings and Roberta Taylor (The Bill, EastEnders) will play Dusty’s mother Kay alongside Katherine Kingsley (Piaf, Singin’ in the Rain) in the title role.

BAFTA and Olivier-nominated writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Coronation Street), has written the script for the production which is directed by Olivier Award-winner Maria Friedman (Merrily We Roll Along, Stepping Out).

The full cast will include Ishmail Aaron, Jenny Bolt, Alex Bowen, Esther Coles, Joelle Dyson, Joanna Francis, Paul Grunert, Ella Kenion, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Katharine Pearson, Micha Richardson, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Hampus Lee Strand and Chad Wilder.

The show is based on the memories of Springfield’s close friend, manager and authorised biographer Vicki Wickham, her lifelong personal assistant Pat Rhodes, and friend and record company executive Tris Penna.

Bios

Rufus Hound is a well-known actor, comedian and presenter equally at home with roles on screen including Doctor Who, Cucumber, Hounded and on the stage including What The Butler Saw (Theatre Royal Bath/Leicester Curve), Don Quixote (RSC), and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre London). He returns to The Lowry following his award-winning role as Mr Toad in The Wind in the Willows. Prior to Dusty, he will be playing opposite Katherine Kingsley in Noël Coward’s Present Laughter at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Roberta Taylor is best known as series regulars Inspector Gina Gold in The Bill and previously Irene Raymond in EastEnders. Alongside her television work her numerous roles onstage include an acclaimed performance as Phoebe Rice in John Osborne’s The Entertainer (Manchester Royal Exchange).

Katherine Kingsley has received multiple Olivier nominations. Theatre credits include Piaf (Donmar Warehouse), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre London)/Manchester Opera House/Aylesbury Waterside Theatre), the Michael Grandage Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Noël Coward Theatre), Singin’ In The Rain (Palace Theatre London/Chichester Festival Theatre) and The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre).