Cast announced for LIFT at Southwark Playhouse
Photo credit: Michael Wharley
Casting has been announced for LIFT, which plays at Southwark Playhouse from 13 May-18 June.
Leading the company will be X Factor finalist Luke Friend (Footloose, American Idiot) who will play the role of Busker, alongside West End star Hiba Elchikhe (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Fiver) as the Secretary, Kayleigh McKnight (Heathers, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) as the French teacher, Jordan Broatch (Anyone Can Whistle) as Avatar, and Marco Titus (Mandela- A New Musical) as BYT.
Making their professional debuts will be Cameron Collins as the Ballet Dancer, Tamara Morgan as the Lap Dancer and Chrissie Bhima as Avatar.
Luke Friend said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of the wonderful cast of LIFT! This show is going to be so intimate and unique. Being a songwriter and Busker myself for many years, I feel as though I completely and utterly relate to my character’s story and the message he is trying to bring across. I can’t wait to give everything to this role and perform at Southwark playhouse for the first time. This is a real treat for me.”
This brand new production is directed by Dean Johnson,with musical direction and new arrangements by Sam Young, choreography by Annie Southall, and design by Andrew Exeter. LIFT has music and lyrics by Craig Adams and a book by Ian Watson.
Director Dean Johnson said: “Since we first began the journey of our revival of LIFT, we knew casting would be integral to how we could present the show as a snapshot of London in 2022. We had the most sensational audition process and the UK is certainly not short of incredible and diverse talent, and this allowed us to find an incredible group of people that can bring this story to life in a fresh way. I really believe our cast demonstrates how exciting the talent pool is in our industry with a mixture of established and incredible artists alongside fresh new faces. I really think they are going to blow the roof off Southwark Playhouse as a collective group of artists!”
Developed by Perfect Pitch, LIFT is set in a London underground lift, in one man’s imagination, on its way to the surface during one minute. In the 54 seconds of the lift’s passage, we are taken on a much greater journey that reveals the people behind the masks they wear, the secrets they dare not speak, and the unrealised connections between them.
Tickets are available now here.
