Final casting announced for world premiere of new musical STARTER FOR TEN
Final casting has been revealed for new musical Starter for Ten, which plays at Bristol Old Vic from 29 February-30 March 2024.
Acclaimed actress, presenter, comedian and writer Mel Giedroyc (The Crown Jewels; Company, West End) will join the cast of the musical, based on David Nicholls’ book and cult film, playing the role of Brian’s mum, Irene Jackson.
Mel said: "David Nicholls’ coming of age story is a classic that everybody can identify with; I was taken right back to being a gawky suburban teen finding my feet at Uni in the 80s. The sights and smells of student life - Impulse body spray, backcombed Robert Smith hairdos, questionable food from a one-ring hob, cheap cigarettes, dance floors sticky with snakebite and black! Starter for Ten is especially meaningful to me and I’m ecstatic to be a part of bringing this brand-new musical version - full of heart, comedy and Strongbow - to a brand-new audience."
She is joined by Robert Portal (The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, BBC) in the role of legendary quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne, Gemma Knight-Jones (Come From Away, West End) as Professor Bowman, Luke Johnson (Close-Up, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Des, and Natasha O’Brien (Aspects of Love, West End) as Mrs Harbinson, with Finlay Blackman, William Hall and Rockingham Ooi-Griffiths sharing the role of Young Brian.
They join the previously announced Adam Bregman as Brian Jackson, Eubha Akilade as Rebecca Munro, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Spencer Lewis, Miracle Chance as Lucy Davies, Emily Lane as Alice Harbinson, and Will Jennings as Patrick Watts.
Starter for Ten has a book and lyrics co-written by Emma Hall and Charlie Parham, Artistic Directors of Antic Productions. The 80s-inspired original score and lyrics are composed by queer, pop-punk composers Tom Rasmussen and Hatty Carman.
The production will be directed by Charlie Parham and choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, with set and costume design by Olivier Award-nominee Frankie Bradshaw, sound by Gregory Clarke and casting by Will Burton for GBC.
Fingers on buzzers! Here’s your Starter for Ten…
What is eighteen-year-old Brian Jackson’s proudest achievement to date? His A-level results. His idol? Kate Bush. His lifelong dream? To compete on legendary TV quiz show University Challenge. It’s 1985 and, leaving Southend to start his first year at Bristol University, Brian soon discovers that falling in love and growing up take a lot more than general knowledge…
Featuring an irresistible original soundtrack inspired by the riotous student scene of the 80s, Starter for Ten is a bright, big-hearted coming-of-age comedy about love, belonging and the all-important difference between knowledge and wisdom.
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