Press Contact: Megan Stone
26 September 2024
Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Group are delighted to announce full casting for the 2024/2025 UK and Ireland tour of the classic multi award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, coming to Theatre Royal Plymouth from 26 February 2025 – 29 March 2025, marking the 20th anniversary since the musical’s world premiere. Tickets are now on sale on the TRP website: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/mary-poppins/#book
Joining the previously announced Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert, who played the roles in Australia to critical and audience acclaim are Michael D. Xavier (Olivier nominee for Into the Woods and Love Story, Sunset Boulevard on Broadway) as George Banks, Lucie-Mae Sumner (West End production of Mary Poppins and Barnum at Menier Chocolate Factory) as Winifred Banks, Rosemary Ashe (original casts of the West End productions of The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Olivier nominee for The Witches of Eastwick) as Mrs Brill, Patti Boulaye (West End and recording star, Carmen Jones at the Old Vic) as Bird Woman, Wendy Ferguson (West End productions of Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall) as Miss Andrew, Sonia Swaby (West End productions of Oliver!, Miss Saigon and Cats) as Mrs Corry and Miss Smythe, Ruairidh McDonald (Matilda, West End) as Roberston Ay and David Burrows (West End productions of Half a Sixpence, My Fair Lady and Oliver!) as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Olivia Ainsworth, Olaya Martinez Cambon, Matilda O’Sullivan, Katie Ryden and Florence Amelia Swann will alternate the role of Jane Banks with Charlie Donald, Jude Martin-Thomas, Oscar McCulloch, Joshua Miles and William Stafford alternating the role of Michael Banks.
The company is completed by Jay Luca Allan, Marianne Bardgett, Rhys Batten, Lydia Boulton, Ben Culleton, Jasmine Davis, Matthew Dawkins, Lily de-la-Haye, Nathan Elwick, Darcy Finden, Lyndsey Gardiner, Ryan Gover, Emma Harrold, Billy Mahoney, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Yujin Park, Roan Pronk, Henry Rhodes, Jacob Ritzema, Scarlet Roche, Callum Rose, Charlie Waddell, Rachael Ward, Jemima-Jane Willcox, James Wolstenholme and Ellie Young.
Cameron Mackintosh said today “I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Mary Poppins back, opening at the Bristol Hippodrome where she first took flight 20 years ago when we opened the first ever stage musical adaptation of Pamela Travers’ books, featuring many of the great Sherman brothers’ songs from The Walt Disney Company’s iconic movie. Since then, Mary has continued to fly around the world dispersing her magic, bringing families together and audiences to their feet in a most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious way! Last year, Disney Theatrical Group and I produced the show again in Australia where it was even more successful the second time round. Our Australian Mary and Bert, Stefanie and Jack, were so practically perfect that we invited them to lead this brilliant new company which also includes such marvellous leading actors of the British theatre as Michael D. Xavier, Rosemary Ashe, Wendy Ferguson, Sonia Swaby and Patti Boulaye. Mary Poppins remains a timeless classic for all ages, full of wonderful characters, brilliant songs, showstopping dances and spectacular magic. So, you are assured of an unforgettable performance and the jolliest of holidays with Mary. But step in time to get tickets, as Mary has a lot of places to visit and her bag is packed!”
Since its premiere at the Bristol Hippodrome in 2004, the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins has gone on to record-breaking productions around the world, gaining over 50 major international awards, including two Olivier Awards and one Tony Award. Over 15 million people have witnessed the magic worldwide with the production having been translated into 13 languages.
Mary Poppins flies back into Bristol Hippodrome on 4 November 2024 ahead of playing Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Theatre Royal Plymouth (26 February 2025 – 29 March 2025), Palace Theatre Manchester, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, Sunderland Empire and Milton Keynes Theatre. Additional venues still to be announced, alongside further casting.
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and The Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The timeless score includes the classic Sherman Brothers songs; Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
MARY POPPINS has original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman with new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book is by Julian Fellowes and this production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. It has orchestrations by William David Brohn and dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. It has sound design by Paul Gatehouse, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, projections by Luke Hall and illusions by Paul Kieve & Jim Steinmeyer. The set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-Choreography is by Stephen Mear. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction is by Richard Eyre. The UK & Ireland Tour is directed by James Powell with choreography recreated by Richard Jones and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker.