Melanie Blake’s best-selling debut novel The Thunder Girls has been adapted for the stage by the author and will receive its world premiere at The Lowry this September.
Having already broken the venue’s box-office records for a new play, this new ‘playsical’ features a stellar cast including Coleen Nolan, Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard, Carol Harrison (EastEnders; Death of a Salesman, National Theatre; Ripen Out Darkness, Royal Court) and West End musical star Sandra Marvin (Hairspray, Chicago, Stepping Out) who quit Emmerdale to join The Thunder Girls.
The Thunder Girls is a true celebration of women with a powerhouse of female creatives: Melanie Blake playwright and bestselling novelist is joined by producer Angela Squire and acclaimed director Joyce Branagh (sister of Kenneth Branagh) to bring to life this theatrical sensation.
With all four of The Thunder Girls actresses in their 40s, 50s and 60s, one of the most under-represented demographics in the UK entertainment industry, this production also shines a light on the creative team’s working class roots – another area which is under-represented in the entertainment industry. Tracy Brabin MP will host a pre-show Q&A on the press night and will be joined on stage by the show’s empowering creative team to discuss these pertinent issues further.
The Thunder Girls are Chrissie, Roxanne, Carly and Anita the eighties pop sensation who dominated the airwaves, their faces on every magazine cover, millions of fans worldwide, constantly at the top of the charts until it all fell apart. 30 years later the play takes us to the reunion dinner from hell when lead singer Chrissie tries to reunite the band she dumped. Chrissie is desperate to salvage herself from bankruptcy after being conned out of her fortune by her toy boy husband. But is there a price which can heal the wounds? Or maybe some friendships never die, even if you want them to? Each character will sing one original song as we followan ‘80s girl group who reunite 30 years after greed, envy and ego tore the band and their friendship apart.
With performing arts running in the Branagh blood, Joyce Branagh (Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York; Aladdin, Lawrence Batley Theatre; Two, Oldham Coliseum; Measure for Measure, Lancaster Castle) has a flair for Shakespeare, new writing and comedy and has worked with some of the UK’s most prestigious touring venues for almost 25 years.
The Thunder Girls is at The Lowry 24th – 28th September 2019.
