Cast and creatives announced for new musical PAINTING THE TOWN at New Wimbledon Theatre
New musical Painting The Town is coming to New Wimbledon Theatre for a workshop and sharing later this month, with the cast and creatives now revealed.
From Visually Impaired writer Gerard McDermott, and in partnership with Extant, the UK's leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists, Painting The Town is a new musical with accessibility at its heart. Featuring integrated audio description, and taking inspiration from skiffle bands and 1960s pop music, Painting The Town celebrates and explores disability, mental health and working class identity.
Painting The Town also features music and lyrics co-written by Carl Prekopp, a book by BBC/Radio Times Drama Award-winner Nick Warburton, direction by Paul Garrington, musical direction by Colin Guthrie.
The cast includes Helen Sheals (Downton Abbey, ITV) as Sheila Harris, Abigail Climer (Grease, UK tour) as Sally Fields, Gary Lilburn (The Cripple of Inishmann, Broadway/West End) as Kenny Duncan, Robin Paley Yorke (Billy Elliot, Curve Leicester) as Treacle Jones, and co-writer Carl Prekopp as Ted Shipley.
Lucy May Barker (Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, West End) takes on the role of Val Slade, with Tate-Elliot Drew (Henry V, UK tour) as Joe Hirst; and Jordan Louis-Fernand (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, UK tour) as Mark Bretherton.
It’s 1966 and change is in the air in a coastal town in the northeast of England. A cultural shift is afoot and the workers at the town council are yearning for more. Wages clerk Sally wants to break free of her toxic relationship, office worker Val dreams of a brighter future, council painter Mark is considering leaving town, and painter Treacle has a secret: he is Visually Impaired, which makes his work challenging. However, Treacle is not the only one harbouring a secret.
Producer of Painting The Town, Emily Hunter Oulton, said: “With accessibility integrated into Painting The Town’s framework, the show has incredible potential to make a big impact on Disabled representation and accessibility in musical theatre.”