Former Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding has been forced to temporarily depart her musical theatre debut role in Bill Kenwright’s touring production of Ghost – The Musical.
According to newspaper reports, Harding – who was already facing less than complimentary reviews via social media, was forced to step down on doctor’s orders on Monday night.
The initial reports appear to have been confirmed when the singer turned actress posted a photograph on her Twitter page of the antibiotics she had been prescribed for an ‘upper respiratory tract infection’.
Harding, whose acting career has included a part in the movie St Trinians 2: The Legend of Frittons Gold before a brief stint in Coronation Street, was cast in the role of tragic heroine Molly in the new production of Ghost for its UK tour, beginning at the New Wimbledon Theatre last Thursday (1 September).
Sources quoted in various press reports have insisted that she will return to the show as soon as she is able. Her role, opposite soap star Andrew Moss, is currently being played by understudy Kelly Hampson.
Billed as ‘Unchained and Reimagined’, the new version of the show has a book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin, based on his original film screenplay, with music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballard. Director is Bob Tomson.
The tour is due to play Wimbledon’s New Theatre until Saturday before moving on next week to the Bristol Hippodrome (12-17 September); Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre (19-24 September); Sunderland Empire (26 September-1 October); Manchester’s Palace Theatre (25-29 October); Oxford New Theatre (31 October-5 November); Edinburgh Playhouse (21-26 November); Princess Theatre, Torquay (30 January 2017-4 February); New Victoria Theatre, Woking (27 February-4 March); Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent (20-25 March); Kings Theatre, Glasgow (27 March-1 April); Liverpool Empire (10-15 April) and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (18-22 April).
