Gypsy opens at Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn

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Feisty, female-fronted Gypsy embarks upon an autumn stretch at Chichester Festival Theatre

Gypsy opens at Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn, with Imelda Staunton leading a stellar cast as the indomitable Mama Rose, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest ever female musical roles. This production reunites key members of the cast and creative team that staged Chichester’s award-winning production of Sweeney Todd, which went on to enjoy an acclaimed West End run.

Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy is considered by many to be the greatest of the Broadway musicals. It tells the story of ambitious showbiz mother Mama Rose who treks across America with her daughters Baby June and Louise, in search of success with their homespun vaudeville act. As times change, Mama Rose is forced to accept the demise of vaudeville and the rise of burlesque, as well as her daughters’ quest for autonomy.

The original book is by Arthur Laurents, whose credits include West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles, Rope and The Way We Were. Music is by Jule Styne, whose roster of classic songs include ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’, ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’ and ‘Three Coins In A Fountain’. And lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, whose numerous credits include Sweeney Todd, Follies, A Little Night Music, Into The Woods, West Side Story and Assassins.

Imelda Staunton plays Mama Rose. Her notable theatre credits include Good People (Hampstead Theatre and West End), also directed by Jonathan Kent, the West End production of Entertaining Mr Sloane, Life x 3 (National Theatre and The Old Vic) and Guys and Dolls (National Theatre). Film credits include 2014’s Pride, the Harry Potter series and her award-winning performance in Vera Drake.

Lara Pulver plays Louise. She previously appeared at Chichester in Uncle Vanya, and other theatre credits include Parade (Donmar Warehouse) for which she received an Olivier Award nomination, Honk! (National Theatre) and Into The Woods (Royal Opera House).

Kevin Whately plays Herbie. This role marks his Chichester debut, however he will be familiar to many through popular screen roles in Lewis and Inspector Morse, as well as Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Kevin’s theatre credits include the West End production of Twelve Angry Men. And Gemma Sutton plays June. Her credits include Carousel, Blues in the Night and the forthcoming TV drama, Cilla.

The cast also features Dan Burton as Tulsa, Jimmy Chisholm as Uncle Jocko, Jack Chissick as Mr Goldstone, Anita Louise Combe as Tessie Tura and Harry Dickman as Pop, amongst a plethora of talent making up the rest of the cast.

The production is directed by Jonathan Kent, whose Chichester credits include Sweeney Todd and Private Lives (which both transferred to the West End). Other credits include the National Theatre production of Oedipus, and Don Giovanni and The Fairy Queen at Glyndebourne. He was also Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre for 12 years.

Choreography is by Stephen Mear, Chichester’s Associate Choreographer, and design is by Anthony Ward. The musical director and orchestrator is Nicholas Skilbeck, and lighting design is by Mark Henderson, with sound by Paul Groothuis.

There will be the chance for audiences to meet some of the Gypsy company at a post-show discussion on Thursday 30 October. Or why not join the technical crew, cast and creative teams to explore Gypsy ‘from the inside out’ on Wednesday 5 November at 11am? Tickets for this event are £5, Theatre Friends and concessions pay £4. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to meet the talent behind this spectacular production.

Gypsy is sponsored by Conquest Fine Bespoke Furniture, Jackson-Stops & Staff, Oval Insurance Broking and Wiley.

Gypsy is at the Festival Theatre from 6 October – 8 November 2014. Evenings 7.30pm, matinees 2.30pm. To book tickets, visit cft.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01243 781312.