Musical theatre stars to appear in Distanced online series

A host of musical theatre performers have come together to perform in an online series of remote scenes, set during lockdown.

Written and directed by Mark Goldthorp (Mary Poppins, Matilda, Sunset Boulevard), Distanced episodes will be released on Youtube every Friday from 9 October.

The scenes, filmed and edited by Alex Bourne (Annie, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You), will reflect life as it was during lockdown and going into the 'new normal'. Exploring both the isolation and connection that has come with the pandemic, Distanced will explore what life was like, and how our interactions have changed over the course of 2020.

The first scene, released on 9 October at 12pm, is called Unsaid and will star Joseph Millson (Mary Poppins) and Sarah-Jane Potts (Waterloo Road, Holby City). The theme tune for the series is entitled ‘The Space Between’ and is performed by Patrick Smyth.

Future episodes will feature Lesley Joseph (Young Frankenstein), Dianne Pilkington (Young Frankenstein, Wicked, Mamma Mia), Carley Stenson (Shrek, Legally Blonde), Amy Griffiths (Mary Poppins, London Road), Delroy Atkinson (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q), Kirsty Hoiles (Mamma Mia, Adrian Mole, Les Miserables) Shelley Williams (Daddy Cool, The House of Lords), Nathanael Campbell (Come From Away), Jason Kajdi (Our House, Mary Poppins) and Alexandra Doar (Joseph UK Tour).

Goldthorp said: “I wanted to create something during lockdown that would bring together the brilliant actors I know and reflect the world we've been forced into. This seemed like the ideal way with 'Zoom' being the chosen method of communication, I loved the idea of being a fly on the wall observing these intimate conversations”

For more information, please follow @distancedscenes on Instagram and subscribe to Distanced Scenes on YouTube.