Hope Mill Theatre has revealed the full cast for the upcoming concert performances of Acorn Antiques The Musical, written by the late Victoria Wood.
The special fundraising concerts will take place at Manchester Opera House on 2 and 16 November, and at Shaftesbury Theatre in London on 9 November.
Leading the cast are Katherine Kingsley as Miss Babs, Gina Beck as Miss Berta, and Anna-Jane Casey as Miss Bonnie. Joining them are Tony Jayawardena as Mr Clifford, Rob Madge as Derek, and Ria Jones reprising her role as Mrs Overall.
Also featured are Harry Hepple, May Tether, Elliot Broadfoot, Grace Mouat, Sally Bankes, George Crawford, Laura Medforth, Steve Elias, Samuel Holmes, Daniele Coombe, Bradley Judge, and Althea Burey.
Set in the fictional town of Manchesterford, Acorn Antiques The Musical follows the lives of antique shop owners Miss Babs and Miss Berta, their tea lady Mrs Overall, and a cast of eccentric characters. Their quaint world is threatened by developers, leading to a hilarious and heartwarming battle to save their beloved high street.
Originally a sketch in Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, Acorn Antiques parodied soap operas with wobbly sets and melodramatic plots. The musical version premiered in 2005, directed by Trevor Nunn, and earned multiple Olivier Award nominations.
The concert is directed by Hope Mill Theatre’s Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with musical direction by Nigel Lilley and choreography by Sammy Murray. The creative team also includes Sophia Pardon (set design), Lorraine Parry (costume), Chrissie Baker (wigs), Aaron Dootson (lighting), and Chris Walker (orchestrations).
“In celebration of our 10th Anniversary and after the success of our previous concert stagings, Gypsy and NINE, we are thrilled to be bringing Acorn Antiques back to the stage and to its rightful home of Manchester!” said Artistic Director Joseph Houston. “This is a hilarious musical extravaganza and myself and Will are so honoured to be working on it alongside the Victoria Wood Estate.”
All proceeds will support Hope Mill Theatre’s Outreach programme, including the Hope Mill Theatre School and a new community space.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
