• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Mel Giedroyc Announced in Final Casting for Starter for Ten

by Staff Writer
November 23, 2023
Reading Time: 4 mins read
The Full Cast of Starter for Ten

The Full Cast of Starter for Ten

Antic Productions, Bristol Old Vic, Longshot Films and Playtone today announce the final casting for new musical Starter for Ten. Acclaimed actress, presenter, comedian and writer Mel Giedroyc is to join the cast of the musical based on David Nicholls’ book and cult film which will run at Bristol Old Vic from 29 February – 30 March.

Mel will play the role of Brian’s mum, ‘Irene Jackson’. She recently starred in The Crown Jewels at the Garrick Theatre in London with other theatre credits including Company (Gielgud); Much Ado About Nothing (Rose); Luce (Southwark Playhouse); New Boy (Trafalgar Studios); Eurobeat (Novello and UK tour); Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith); Jack and the Beanstalk (Barbican).

Her numerous TV credits include Let it Shine; The Great British Bake Off (BAFTA Award Winner); Light Lunch; Unforgivable; Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker; How To Build A Girl; Miranda; Mel and Sue Show; and the Strictly Come Dancing Xmas Special.

       

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 in the role of legendary quizmaster ‘Bamber Gascoigne’. Robert is a familiar face on stage and screen, known for his role as Paul Critchley on the BBC television series The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006), his role as the Duke of Richmond on the ITV drama series Belgravia (2020) and film work including the King in The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016), My Week with Marilyn (2011) and Six Days (2017). His extensive stage credits include the role of Hannay in the West End production of The 39 Steps; The Boy Friend (Menier Chocolate Factory); Calico (Duke of York’s); Noises Off (Piccadilly); Private Lives and The Deep Blue Sea (Theatre Royal, Bath) as well as numerous productions for Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre.

You mightalso like

Royal Court Season images by Guy J Sanders

Royal Court Theatre Announces May – December 2025 Programme

Stephenson Ardern Sodje image supplied by publicist

Stephenson Ardern-Sodje Returns to Play Simba in Disney’s The Lion King in London’s West End

Additional casting announced today includes Gemma Knight-Jones in the role of ‘Professor Bowman’. Her extensive theatre credits include A Christmas Carol (Old Vic); Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Gielgud & Piccadilly Theatres), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Sister Act and Hairspray (both UK tour).

Also, Luke Johnson takes the role of ‘Des’. His credits include Close-Up (Menier Chocolate Factory), The Light Princess (National Theatre), Wizard of Oz (London Palladium), The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) and Chicago (Cambridge Theatre).

Natasha O’Brien plays ‘Mrs Harbinson’. Her musical theatre credits include Aspects Of Love (Apollo Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre & International Tour) and Falsettos (The Other Palace).

The cast is completed by Finlay Blackman, William Hall and Rockingham Ooi-Griffiths sharing the role of Young Brian.

       

They join previously announced Adam Bregman as the Southend-born, Bristol-bound undergraduate, ‘Brian Jackson’ (Sing Street – Huntington Theatre; Bar Mitzvah Boy – Upstairs At The Gatehouse). Making her stage debut, Eubha Akilade as Rebecca Munro’, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as ‘Spencer Lewis’ (‘Spike’ in Rock Follies – Chichester Festival Theatre; ‘Simba’ in Disney’s The Lion King and Hamilton – Cameron Mackintosh
Ltd), Miracle Chance as ‘Lucy Davies’ (The Witches – National Theatre), Emily Lane as ‘Alice Harbinson’ (‘Anna’ in Frozen – West End), and Will Jennings in the role of ‘Patrick Watts’, (Les Miserables; The Mousetrap and Avenue Q – all West End).

Starter for Ten has 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 (who is currently on tour across the UK, and recently supported Rina Sawayama and Self Esteem on tour with their debut album, Body Building) and Hatty Carman.

Starter for Ten will be directed by Charlie Parham, choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, with set and costume design by Olivier Award-nominee Frankie Bradshaw, sound design by Gregory Clarke and casting by Will Burton for GBC.

Listings and ticket information can be found here

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

At Theatre Weekly we are dedicated to giving theatre a new audience. Our News, Reviews and Interviews are all written with the audience in mind, helping you decide what to see next. And when you have decided, our great ticket deals will help save you money too.

Related Articles

Royal Court Season images by Guy J Sanders
News

Royal Court Theatre Announces May – December 2025 Programme

Stephenson Ardern Sodje image supplied by publicist
News

Stephenson Ardern-Sodje Returns to Play Simba in Disney’s The Lion King in London’s West End

Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium image supplied by publicist
News

The London Palladium Pantomime Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Sleeping Beauty

LtoR Nathan Ryles, Stephenson Ardern Sodje & Amonik Melaco in rehearsals for AUSTENLAND, credit Steve Gregson
Interviews

Interview: Stephenson Ardern-Sodje on Austenland at the Savoy Theatre

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Remythed Production Ali Wright

Review: Remythed at Kings Head Theatre

Paddington The Musical image supplied by publicist

Paddington The Musical Announces Performance Schedule Ahead of West End Premiere

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly